The upbeat melodic pop songs of singer/songwriter Maren Parusel can turn someone with even the surliest reputation into a purveyor of positive vibes. Case in point: Pall Jenkins from Black Heart Procession, a band known for creating deep, dark, introspective songs. Jenkins produced Parusel’s debut album, Artificial Gardens, and when…
The line up of Within These Walls has been changing a bit over the past couple weeks, but it looks like it’s close to being locked down. A headliner was recently announced, and it’s none other than seminal New York hardcore punk heroes, H2O. It’s been a good six years…
Cannonball Pool Party Kickoff The hipster pool party is officially back. The promoters of Sticky Fingers and Retro Hi-Fi have come together for the all new Cannonball Pool Party at the Lexington Hotel. The summer’s remaining Sunday afternoons are going to be all about looking hip, taking a dip and…
Cement and concrete are often thought to be the same thing, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Concrete is made possible through a process called hydration, in which cement and water are mixed with gravel-like aggregates to make the solid sidewalks we stomp our feet on. At this point, you…
Dayve Hawk lit up the blogosphere back in 2008 with his multifarious Memory Tapes remixes, as well as 2009’s debut LP Seek Magic. Then championed as chillwave, Memory Tapes is now seen as a more calculated producer effort by Hawk, and rightfully so — he has hit his stride with…
This week is a special one for Chad Krystals. The local hip-hop musician is releasing his new, third independent album, Mind Games, today, off his own independent label, Krystal Clear Inc. He’s giving Valley music fans a little taste of the album with a special showcase at Phoenix’s Hidden House…
Some bands call themselves “eclectic” because they merge metal and hip-hop or include a xylophone in some songs, but Swedish band Teddybears’ music is the epitome of the word. Listening to the band’s sixth album, Devil’s Music (released in the states on Big Beat/Atlantic today), it’s impossible to pigeonhole the…
Music writer Jane Scott, who covered just about every music legend you can think of during her 50-year tenure at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, died early Monday morning at age 92.As a female music journalist, Scott was a pioneer. She was the only woman reporter at a Cleveland news…
NightlandsThe Sail InnSunday, July 3, 2011My very first thought when Nightlands took the stage last night and began cranking out lush harmonies was “Oh man, this band needs to open up for Fleet Foxes,” and I couldn’t be any more sincere about that statement. It might seem a bit far-fetched…
Jeff Bridges Arizona BiltmoreSunday, June 3, 2011Jeff Bridges is a likable guy. He’s the kind of character you root for, even when he’s beating up Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man, even when he’s playing a cold-blooded killer in Jagged Edge. He’s got a quality that just endears people to him,…
Chants of “Let’s go Murphys” rang through the half-filled Marquee Theatre about 45 minutes before the opening band even took the stage. The mantra only grew louder throughout the night as the crowd grew to capacity and eventually beckoned the Dropkick Murphys out on stage for an encore performance three hours later.
Face to Face Nile TheaterFriday, July 1 The ’90s were a good time for punk rock. Fat Wreck Chords, Epitaph, Lookout, and Nitro were powerhouses of the upbeat catchy punk that dominated Warped Tour’s glory days. While many of the bands that defined the genre have faded away after year…
Did someone say $1 Pabst Blue Ribbons? And a “punk rock DJ night”? We are so there. This Tuesday, July 5, local punk purveyor Tim Neilson (better known by his DJ handle, Johnny Volume ), continues hosting his bi-weekly Delinquency event at the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe. In addition…
Sometimes the word “eclectic” just doesn’t do a dude justice. Djentrification is one of the most “eclectic” DJs in town, and the term barely serves to scratch the surface when it comes to his unique musical approach.He’s not a typical DJ, finding kindred spirits in guys like legendary Phoenix oddballs…
A new queen of pop has been crowned by Rolling Stone, according to Idolator.Rolling Stone put 16 female pop stars head to head in the ultimate statistical showdown to see who would reign as queen. Competitors included Adele, Beyonce Knowles, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson,…
Aaron MayThe chef owns Over Easy (additional location here), The Lodge, Mabel’s on Main, Iruna and Vitamin T, as well as May’s Counter in Tucson. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? The Grateful Dead channel on Sirius…
REVIEW BY MELISSA FOSSUM AND DANIEL RAVEN New Kids On the Block and Backstreet Boys have grown up a bit since their heydays on MTV and the music charts, and so have their fans. But that hasn’t stopped the bands from cashing in on nostalgia, or people from buying tickets for…
Former Friends of Young Americans, The Tremulants The Lost Leaf Thursday, June 30 There’s something to be said about Arizona’s music scene when you can slip into a local watering hole and find great local bands like The Tremulants and Former Friends of Young Americans just hanging out, playing a…
The CosmeticatorsThe Trunk Space Thursday, June 30, 2011After the loud ‘n’ proud punk rock show at Trunk Space last night, I’m starting to think there’s a new trend of garage rockers writing songs about their pets. As we mentioned in this week’s music feature on Phoenix trio The Cosmeticators, the band has songs…
Although they have not produced at a very prolific pace thus far, the members of Phoenix indie pop group St. Ranger are on the verge of unleashing some serious noise.
UK doom metal band 40 Watt Sun’s new album, The Inside Room, won’t be released stateside on Metal Blade Records until July 19, but it’s already hotly anticipated by fans of both 40 Watt Sun and their singer Patrick Walker, former front man of Warning.The Inside Room boasts five tracks,…
The Young & Useless Tour may not be so aptly named. While the performers — Austin Gibbs, Carter Hulsey, and headliners This Century — are young, they’re not exactly useless. Locals This Century, in particular, has been generating buzz around their feelgood, melodic indie rock. Alternative Press named the band…
