Top Phoenix Music Stories of the Week

The news waits for no one — at least that’s what we read somewhere — so it’s perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of…

Melissa Lenberg, What Are You Listening To?

Melissa Lenberg Lenberg is the owner of Citrine Natural Beauty Bar at UNION Biltmore Fashion Park. Learn more here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now?Sirus Channel 42, The Joint. What’s the first album you bought? Wu-Tang Clan, Enter…

William Reed Ends Sticky Fingers Dance Party Tomorrow Night

After a two-and-a-half-year run, DJ William “Fucking” Reed has decided to pull the plug on Sticky Fingers, Bar Smith’s ultra-hip Friday night dance party (which just so happened to win our best of award for Best Weekly Dance Night for Hipsters in 2012, and a whole bunch of other years…

What Is “Seapunk,” and What Did Rihanna and Azealia Banks Do To It?

I can’t believe there’s actually a Twitter war going on (when isn’t there a war on Twitter?) over the legitimacy of #Seapunk. What’s that “hashtag seapunk,” you ask? Imagine if you took Lisa Frank’s fetish for porpoises, ran it through crappy late-’90s Geocities GIFs, and added some terrible, too-clever ocean-themed…

Why Is There So Much Indie Rock on Television?

By Dave Good It’s hard not to notice: Indie bands seemingly soundtrack just about every sitcom, film and television commercial today. But why? Influential music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas swears it’s not just about cheap labor. “It’s far more of a creative decision than a monetary one,” she says. “We’re picking…

’90s Survivors The Pistoleros Still Shoot Straight

He’s being awful polite about it, but Lawrence Zubia has places to go. It’s Halloween evening, and he’s sitting at a table at Casey Moore’s in Tempe. He looks every inch the rock star. He’s sporting a black vest and drain-pipe black Levis, a red bandanna around his neck, and…

Deftones Don’t Conform to the Nu-Metal Mold

It starts simply enough, with a pulsing electric guitar blip and waves of synths. “Brace for the glory, as you stare into the sky,” Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno moans through the fuzzy washes of noise. “Beneath, I know you can’t be tired,” he sings softly, as the twin guitars roar…

Four Artists Who Would Have Paired Well With The Game

In hip-hop, the past is a constant, and idealization of one’s forefathers — or mothers — is an uncrossable tradition. The Game might be hip-hop’s most eloquent eulogizer. His 2005 hit “Dreams” spoke poignantly to that point: Game all but admitted that he’ll never mean as much to the culture…

Phoenix DJ Community Reacts to Hate Crime Against Austin Head

Local DJ and activist Austin Head was assaulted early Friday morning in what has now been designated an anti-gay hate crime. The local community has expressed outrage over this incident, as well as sending its best regards to Austin Head. Check out what some local DJs have to say about…

What’s The Best Way to Promote My Band?

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to help you stop…

Phoenix DJ Austin Head Injured in Hate Crime Assault

Update: Phoenix Police have officially designated the attack on Austin Head an anti-gay hate crime. Read more at New Times’ news blog, Valley Fever. Local DJ, activist, and former New Times Clubs Editor Austin Head was assaulted early on Friday, November 9, while walking down Central Avenue. Two men harassed…

Morrissey Reschedules Marquee Theatre Show

I imagine there are some casual Morrissey fans out there, but most of the Moz fans I know are the diehard sort, the kind of folks who’ll stick by the singer no matter what grumpy things he says and does. So while I’m sure someone was just kinda bummed about…

Top Five Phoenix Music Stories of the Week

The news waits for no one — at least that’s what we read somewhere — so it’s perfectly understandable that you, the reader, might have missed out on a musical tidbit, breaking news about your favorite venue, or one of our rants. So enjoy this digest-style sampling of some of…

TK Newman, What Are You Listening To?

TK Newman Newman is the co-founder of upscale wedding dress reseller Hustle Your Bustle. For more info, go here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Either 100.7 FM or 102.5 FM — I’m a country girl at…

Take Cover: Yus Covers Broadcast

Broadcast built a dedicated fanbase with its innovative mix of ’60s nostalgia and electronic beats. If you’ve never heard the band, imagine Nico singing for Stereolab. Youceff Kabal, who performs under the stage name of Yus plays piano and slows the song down a bit for his version of “Michael…

Jens Lekman Studies the Science of Songwriting

Matters of the heart exist, of course, in an emotional realm, but for singer/songwriter Jens Lekman, heartbreak has a bit of a scientific component, too. For his follow-up to 2007’s Night Falls Over Kortedala, Lekman didn’t want to make an album about a difficult breakup. But the songs had other…