Johnny Richter, formerly of the Kottonmouth Kings, doesn’t slow down for anyone. He also doesn’t take shit from anyone. After unexpectedly leaving KMK in mid-October, Richter hit the ground running with a rejuvenated solo career and a new EP, FreeKING Out, set for release December 17. The short and sweet…
When you are one of a half-dozen bands that are a rite of passage for every coming generation, there’s really no need to sell your wares to the highest bidder. Thanks goodness The Doors had John Densmore fighting that good fight for many years, even when it meant gong against…
Guitarist and lead vocalist Matt Heafy was around 13 or 14 when Trivium formed in Orlando in 2000, and only 17 when Trivium released their debut album, Ember To Inferno. Over the past decade, Heafy and the other members of Trivium have come a long way, from constant experimentation (each…
It’s probably a good idea to avoid people who quote Doors lyrics in everyday conversation — unless, of course, it’s John Densmore, timekeeper for the legendary group. He earned that right, having to live with those words and Jim Morrison’s predilection for acting them out onstage and in real life…
The blues community continues to rally around those in need. About 10 bands recently performed at Pho Cao Vietnamese Restaurant and Nightclub in Tempe to help Lenny Malik. Malik, known for his harmonica playing in the Phoenix area, is suffering from colon cancer. He was a truck driver for many…
The psychedelic and theatrical harmony of The Flaming Lips has stood the test of time. Since forming in Oklahoma City 30 years ago the band has bridged the generations by appealing to everyone from the counterculture of the past to the rave-heavy subculture of today. It seems fitting then, that…
It’s been a long time coming. Music lovers across Phoenix have awaited an event that will truly encompass the diverse variety of today’s most popular artists. On December 14, Salt River Fields will host the inaugural True Music Festival, marketed with the tagline “One day will change everything,” as another…
It’s probably a good idea to avoid people who quote Doors lyrics in everyday conversation — unless, of course, it’s John Densmore, timekeeper for the legendary group. He earned that right, having to live with those words and Jim Morrison’s predilection for acting them out onstage and in real life…
RZA/Bobby Digital/Prince Rakeem ain’t got nothing on Snoop Dogg, at least when it comes to the alter-ego shizzle. To his mama and papa, he’s either Calvin Cordozar Broadus or “Snoopy,” his childhood nickname. Meanwhile, he’s been the Doggfather to the hip-hop world for two decades, hood anchor Nemo Hoes on…
Thursday 12 AZ/88: Black Out Thursdays with Josh 1 (soulful house, lounge) Bar Smith: Thursday Ladies Night with DJ AL3, & DJ NERD (hip-hop, Latin, EDM) 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…
Yeezus. Yeezy. Kanye. Ye. Call him what you will, but if last night is any indication Yeezus will go down as one of the best tours of all time, with or without Grammy nominations. Kanye West made sure to mention that his latest record only received two nominations for a…
Back in 2009, Brian “Head” Welch was hosting auditions at his Phoenix studio in order to craft a band for his own brand of music. The legendary former Korn guitarist experimented and jammed out with a few members, but then went back to searching for his ideal bandmates. In 2011,…
There’s no shortage of Michael Jackson conspiracies, but this one is my favorite: Michael Jackson was supposed to do the music for Sonic 3, one of the biggest video game events of the ’90s, but the child abuse scandal that changed his career forever sent Sega running. Nevertheless, the conspiracy…
Everything is 20 years ago. Or so goes the cyclic, feedback-loop that is pop culture. Apparently, it was 20 years ago for The Stones Roses when they formed in the mid ’80s, citing ’60s psychedelia as a primary influence (in 1967, 20 years before The Stone Roses formed, another notable…
[Editor’s Note: In his column Serrano Time, award-winning writer and goofball Shea Serrano writes about his life and times.] Song: Eminem’s “The Monster,” featuring Rihanna History: Eminem did a freestyle battle. He went up against Papa Doc and choked. It was pretty sad. Then some more sad stuff happened to…
Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra really packed the people in to the partitioned Crescent Ballroom on Sunday night having easily more than 200 people arrive ready to dance for their fifth show ever, and their first since June. The group, which describes itself as a “musical collective,” consists of 14 musicians–and among…
Whether they were adding a bit of flair to an old favorite, taking the scene by storm, or continuing their march to the top, 2013 was a big year for Valley musicians under 21. Here’s 10 of our favorites who spent most of 2013 in the all-ages sections of their…
Big B is the sharp rhythmic voice attached to your favorite songs. Whether the name rings a bell or not, his voice and his musical influence has been present in collaborations with everybody from P!nk and the Dirty Heads,to Unwritten Law, Pennywise and NoFX. No genre is safe when the…
Mike Kinsella has reincarnated himself yet again, and you have every reason to be excited. Kinsella, along with brother Tim and cousin Nate, helped to usher in the emo movement of the Midwest, setting the underpinnings for the genre with Chicago-based Owls, Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc and American Football…
Few people can flip through their rock ‘n roll rolodex and put together a show quite as well as Valley legend Alice Cooper. After all, Cooper is the king of shock rock, and he paved the way for a legion of acts trying to get a rise out of mothers…
Aydin Immortal is rock ‘n’ roll, and Wolvves is more fun than any other band in Phoenix. Those are the two most important lessons the 25 to 40 people who showed up to Funny World on First Friday learned when they saw the Phoenix-based skate-punks headline a local house show,…
Last week Phoenicians had a chance to celebrate a not-exactly routine Christmas with Alice Cooper. This week you’ve got Korn. I can’t promise any metal Christmases at all next week, so make of that what you will. (View our complete concert calendar here.)…
