Photo by Ian WitlenHave you ever seen a gingerbread man with no arms do the shimmy? What about two sharks going at it in shallow water? Seriously, who doesn’t want to see a drunk dude having the time of his life, only to fall flat on his ass? It’s the…
Society is obsessed with culture clash. Stories of different countries making love and starting wars, cuisine fusions and foreign customs — people eat it up, day after day. But what else society is craving nowadays? A rowdy new democracy. And the music industry wants the same. Enter The Aristocrats, three…
The key to any band’s longevity is the ability to maintain a core sound while changing to lure new generations of fans. The Rolling Stones are the quintessential example, having survived 50 years on gritty rock ‘n’ roll licks that receive fresh infusions of timely sound forms (from country to…
Thursday 16 AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Bar Smith: Ladies Night with DJ AL3 (hip-hop, Latin) Bobby Q’s: All Star Thursdays with DJ Freshmaker, DJ Phlava, DJ Dark Vader, & DJ Skoolboi (hip-hop, Top 40, reggae) Dos Gringos (Scottsdale): DJ Switch (rock, Top 40, remixes)…
For those who came of age after Y2K, the heady days of heart-on-sleeve pop-punk, as defined by bands like Fall Out Boy, Cartel, and Panic! at the Disco, brought radio-ready acts that were as relatable and open-hearted as they were kitschy. Few records encapsulated this timeframe with the honesty of…
The owners of the Monarch Theatre would be wise to make sure their much-heralded PK sound system is finely tuned, since that baby’s about to get a major workout this weekend. It’s likely to be put through its paces on Saturday, January 18, when 30,000 watts of warped bass blasts…
Within instrumental music circles, the majority of the talented musicians run alone — releasing solo albums, working as sidemen, dipping deep into numerous projects. And on occasion, a handful of those virtuoso artists come together to create more than just a collaborative album, and it gets a little rowdy in…
Photo by Ian WitlenAfter three years of raging at sea, Hard Events’ Holy Ship cruise has proven itself to be the best nautical EDM adventure that money can buy. (Of course, we here at Crossfade enjoyed press accommodations, so we didn’t actually pay.) It might still be a new-ish phenomenon,…
Photo by Ian WitlenEnough about the music and enough about the giant ship — everyone wants the good stuff! Like, who was the most wasted asshole on the boat? Who delivered the most snooze-worthy DJ set? And who was the most ratchet dancer of Holy Ship!!! 2014? While the rest…
I’m sure you’re burnt out on reading best of 2013 lists by now, but taking an extra two weeks to wrap up the best shows of the year list was productive. For one, it’s tough to compare a small, intimate show like Jimmy Eat World’s mini-Arizona tour against massive productions…
Don’t worry: This man has not been harmed. He’s simply very intensely hopeful that you’ll come see his show. If you don’t–well, he could stop bleeding, or he could bleed even more. It’s hard to tease out his emotions. (View our complete concert calendar here.)…
Look, your mom deserves to be happy. You get that and I get that. Dad’s been gone for a while, and all the kids are starting families of their own, and she’s certainly earned the chance to focus on herself for a change. But there’s something about Pat, her new…
Photo by Ian Witlen After three years of raging at sea, Hard Events’ Holy Ship cruise has proven itself to be the best nautical EDM adventure that money can buy. (Of course, we here at Crossfade enjoyed press accommodations, so we didn’t actually pay.) It might still be a new-ish…
Fans of Phoenix music already know that Dry River Yacht Club can rock all the best local music venues. They get down at the Crescent, they can pack the Sail Inn — Marquee Theatre, Rhythm Room. Check, check, check. But a lot of local bands can do that. Where the…
It’s really a shame Janelle Monáe was ordered by doctors to postpone her November performance at the Crescent Ballroom late last year for “mandatory vocal rest.” If her performance would have been anything like the Saturday, January 11, concert at Marquee Theatre, it most certainly would have been on our…
Local punk rock band The Venomous Pinks are fighting for gender equality in the music business every time they take the stage. The three-lady group says they face challenges at every gig they play because audience members aren’t always used to seeing so much female power on stage, and they’re…
Rubber Brother Records is really cool — the cassettes, the amazing DIY shows, the sincere work with high-school-age musicians, and now a seamless transition from an epic underground festival to a sardine-can-tight all-ages show at Crescent Ballroom along with one of Phoenix’s premier acts, Wooden Indian. Like a lot of…
Last year was surprisingly good for metal. Not only did we have some mosh pit-worthy tours and festivals — those only seem to increase every year — but there were a ton of kick-ass album releases, as well. Amon Amarth’s Deceiver of the Gods, Ghost B.C.’s Infestissuman, Phil Anselmo’s Walk…
One of these men is a member of the version of Herman’s Hermits coming through town this weekend. The others are not even hermits at all. (View our complete concert calendar here.)…
“I think there’s a big misconception of EyeHateGod,” says Jimmy Bower. “People see the name, think, maybe these guys are Satanists, maybe they’re just stupid.” I first heard EyeHateGod back in 1992 when In the Name of Suffering came out. Admittedly, I was as enthused by their name as much…
By Mary Grace Cerni There are party fouls that can be forgiven. Really egregious ones, even, like peeing in the indoor plants. But disrupting the music by unplugging the host’s device in favor of your own iPod or smartphone? Now that’s fucked up…
Pop music has a proud tradition of socially awkward lead singers — the Brian Wilsons, the shoegazers, the Rivers Cuomos. They are not what this list is about. This is about the other kind of frontman and frontwoman — the one who gets inside your head or maybe right up…
