The Nine Best Concerts in Phoenix This Week

In case your teenaged kids haven’t already excitedly informed you, Justin Bieber is headed to the Valley later this week. Like it or not, the 22-year-old hitmaker is hitting Gila River Arena in Glendale on Wednesday with his “Purpose” tour in support of the blockbuster album of the same name…

Tempe Neighborhood’s “Vanishing Show II” Shut Down by Police

The Vanishing Show in Tempe’s Maple-Ash-Farmer-Wilson neighborhood is a novel response to Tempe’s strict noise ordinances. The event, which had its second annual show Saturday night, acts as a moving house party with bands playing no longer than 20 or 30 minute sets. The idea is that by the time police…

Lineup Changes Can’t Slow Down The Hourglass Cats

The last time The Hourglass Cats (THC) dropped an EP Jan Brewer was still governor, KONGOS wasn’t platinum yet, Black Carl was still together, and Sheriff Joe. . .was still sheriff. But that’s neither here nor there. It has been since June of 2012 since THC has release a collection…

The 10 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend

Game to go a show this weekend? You’ve certainly got no shortage of options available as the concert calendar in overloaded with big gigs by major names taking place around Phoenix. That includes performances by rock and country legends (David Crosby, Vince Gill), burgeoning hip-hop stars (Migos), and phenomenally gifted…

Sister Sparrow’s Live Album Was a Happy Accident

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds were all set to open a New Year’s Eve party for Daryl Hall at the singer’s Hudson Valley venue, when a perplexing cancellation sent the band scrambling to book a replacement gig. But the hard-touring Brooklyn-based band, a seven-piece that plays a feisty mix…

Alan Parsons Bemoans the Death of the Concept Album

Even if he’d never released a single note of his own music, Alan Parsons would have been a part of rock history. As engineer on the last two Beatles albums, he presided at two noteworthy sessions — the last ever Beatles live show (on the roof for Let It Be)…

Why Were the ’90s Making a Comeback at Ultra Miami 2016?

When Prince decided to party like it was 1999, little did he, or anyone else for that matter, understand the significance of the year. For the purposes of his song, it was the end of the century and thus a reason to celebrate. However, for electronic dance music, it was…

The Ten Best Metal Drummers in Phoenix, 2016 Edition

There are two elements in rock music that don’t get the credit they deserve: the percussion and the bass. Both work together to provide the foundation to the beat of the song and the melody. While the bass works as the bridge between the percussion and the rest of the…

The Winners and Losers of Ultra Miami 2016

With Ultra 2016 in the history books, it’s time to look back at just who exactly came out on top, and who walked away from Bayfront Park with nothing but regret and a T-shirt soaked in other people’s bodily fluids. This year, like every year, we end the weekend with…

Why Is Fall Out Boy So Popular?

There have to be moments of existential angst for every worthwhile pursuit. There really does. If the universe is fair, everybody out there — working away at some job or profession, hobby, labor of love, whatever it might be — has to have some moment where you look within your…

Eight Best Concerts in Phoenix This Week

Some of the biggest and most notable music fests of the springtime are officially in the rearview, both here in the Valley and elsewhere. Pot of Gold, for instance, wrapped up its second year down at Rawhide in Chandler over the weekend with memorable performances by headliners Futuristic and Big…