History owes as much to accident as it does to ambition. Take the story of how Washington, D.C.-rooted (mostly) instrumental rock trio Trans Am became a pioneering name in a hot new genre because of someone else’s negligence. “We did have a singer — a friend of ours — and…
I love Billy Joel. I can get pretentious about the music I like, but at the end of the day, I always go back to the Piano Man. He could be soft or edgy. Songs like “Pressure” were futuristic and others like “Uptown Girl” could wax nostalgic. He was the…
Will the real Pink Floyd please stand up? Actually, the real one has decided to sit it out for the foreseeable future, but in its place stands the live spectacle known as Brit Floyd, perhaps the closest thing to the real McCoy. With a syncopated psychedelic light show complete with…
Performing, writing, or even living, Greg Brown is at his best when he can settle into a groove. With 25 studio albums, the 64-year-old Brown has carved out a distinct path among folk singer-songwriters. His rich baritone, with a rounded, cozy Midwestern drawl, delivers songs with wry humor, existentially yearning…
The past several years have been quite the whirlwind for Lindsey Stirling. Since reaching the quarterfinals of America’s Got Talent in 2010 by fusing classical and dubstep music together, the world-renowned violinist has released an EP (2010’s Lindsey Stomp), a self-titled full-length album, and created more than a dozen YouTube…
Jazz is for everyone. At least, that’s the message that the owners of The Nash want to spread. This June, Phoenix the award-winning jazz venue will host a number of summer workshops for the second year in a row. The workshops are designed for anyone looking to improve their skills…
In 2004, singer-songwriter Matt Pond quietly released his critically acclaimed fifth album Emblems with his band, Matt Pond PA. Documenting the artist’s stressful relocation to Brooklyn from Philadelphia, the album delved into the creative highs and lonely lows of a new city. It showcased a musician at an artistic peak…
Steve Wiley is Up on the Sun’s resident Record Store Geek. Biweekly, he shares stories of great music and whacky characters from his continuing 27 years in Valley record stores and the always-zany music biz. Welcome back, my friends. When I last left you, I was discussing my favorite record…
Buffalo Killers, at the very least, seem to hail from another time, which makes them perfect for right now. This four piece Ohio-based band adheres to that old balls-to-the-wall rock and roll credo when music was all about style and substance as well as simply piling on the heavy…
I love live music. As someone who writes about music for a living, that is probably as unsurprising a sentence I could type. I love going to concerts, hanging out with like-minded music lovers, and watching professionals execute their craft at the highest levels possible. I love music music that…
Steve Wiley is Up on the Sun’s resident Record Store Geek. Biweekly, he shares stories of great music and whacky characters from his continuing 27 years in Valley record stores and the always-zany music biz. As you might expect, working in a record store is a pretty cool job. Sure,…
Despite the fact he sports snapbacks and Coolin’ Out T-shirts, spins at the Blunt Club, and has a new project with Phoenix rapper Very G., local selecta Dominic Khin Htay doesn’t consider himself to be purely a hip-hop DJ. The 35-year-old, who performs as DJ Organic, prefers to be versatile…
Musicians of Phoenix, start limbering up your wrists and get practicing. Not at bettering your strumming or drumming abilities, but rather your skills at tossing strikes and spares. That’s because the Phoenix Independents Bowl is back after a three-year absence. Local concert promoter “Psyko” Steve Chilton announced earlier this week…
Many legends have spawned from Arizona’s hard rock and heavy metal scene — Chester Bennington, Maynard James Keenan, Alice Cooper, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Jason Newsted, as well as bands like Job for a Cowboy and Flotsam and Jetsam — just to name a few. There’s a common denominator…
Damien Jurado’s 2012 album Maraqopa — a dreamscape narrative that found the once-quiet singer-songwriter enmeshed in spacey psychedelic rock — is only half the story. After a stalled effort at a follow-up record, Jurado took the advice of a friend and revisited the album’s world — which came to him,…
Against Me!’s latest album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, may be one of the most important records of the decade. We’re deep in a cultural war for gay and women’s rights, but we’ve barely scratched the surface regarding transgender issues. The coming out of someone in the public eye still qualifies as…
For Brad Paisley fans hoping to beat this summer with some musical relief, bad news: LiveNation anounced today that the show has been canceled due to “scheduling conflicts.” Refunds will be available at the point of purchase. Find any show in Metro Phoenix via our extensive online concert calendar. 9…
On May 18, classic rockers the Steve Miller Band, Journey, and Tower of Power will join forces for a summer tour. Last week, Miller, along with Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain — both original Journey members — participated in a lengthy conference call to talk about all kinds of stuff,…
Chips off the block, The Safes — three brothers from Chicago — credit their dad, a working musician and record collector for laying down a rich musical foundation that inspired them to naturally progress from siblings into a power pop trio. Their new release, Record Heat, is loaded with muscle-y,…
Drop by El Hefe in Scottsdale on any given Sunday afternoon and you’ll find yourself in the middle of a party, and quite the epic one at that. The Saddlebag Trail spot is a bit infamous for its weekly 4-2-10 Sundays affair, which is one the wildest club events in…
The Black Keys announced a nationwide tour in support of their forthcoming album, Turn Blue, and they will stop by Phoenix on November 10 to play the US Airways Center. No word yet on ticket price, but if you pre-order the album through the Black Keys’ website you can get…
If you missed the sold-out shows Dr. Dog played at the Crescent Ballroom in February, you don’t have to wait much longer for another chance to see the Philadelphia band. Dr. Dog is playing a free show at Desert Botanical Gardens on May 15. RSVP here. See also: Dr. Dog’s…
