Six months of 2017 are officially on the books. What better time to reflect on the spectacular year it's been for music in metro Phoenix? Here they are: the best festivals, CD release shows, DJ sets, music videos, and cover songs we've seen and heard so far this year.
Viva PHX 2017
March 11
Viva’s lineup featured more bands than it was possible to see, and an extra dose of craziness. Twenty venues hosted around 100 bands, including The Drums, American Football, and headliners Girl Talk and The Maine. Girl Talk’s headlining performance stole the show at Comerica with folks joining on stage and toilet paper being shot into the crowd. Lindsay Roberts
Lawrence Zubia
March 19
The Newton
How many times have I mindlessly listened to the Gin Blossoms' "Hey Jealousy"? Who knows. When Lawrence Zubia played a bare-bones version of Doug Hopkins' song at Brian Smith's Spent Saints book-signing, it was different. Chills crept up my arms. The lyrics got stuck in my throat. It was devastating. Becky Bartkowski
A Little Less Put Together by Sundressed
March 24
Animal Style Records
In a time when emo nostalgia feels like it’s at an all-time high, it’s important to take note of the new class of heartstring-pullers. Sundressed’s polished debut is chock-full of soulful, driving melodies. It's perfect for those times when you just want to air-drum your feelings. Ashley Harris
DJs and Vibes
Walter Yoga
Walter Productions hosts a seasonal series of weekly yoga classes at their downtown Phoenix office/party space called Walter Yoga. It's definitely a “yoga experience,” with a DJ spinning atop of their art car Kalliope. Instructors put on a sort-of instructional performance with a theme for the class equipped with scripted words, costumes, laser lights, dozens of disco balls, and spotlights. There's really nothing else like it around town. Amanda Savage
Quadraphoenix Single Release Showcase
March 24
Crescent Ballroom
This unique show featured four bands — The Hourglass Cats, Sunset Voodoo, The Sink or Swim, and The Real Fits — releasing singles on a special compilation CD given out that night. All four bands were awesome and the place was rocking all night, complete with a signature Cori Rios howl. Henri Benard
Treasure Mammal Opening for Peelander-Z
March 26
Valley Bar
Opening for a band as dynamic as Peelander-Z is a tough gig. If any local had a chance of topping them, it's Treasure Mammal. Setting up inflatable snowmen and Christmas trees, Abe and his backup dancers brought the audience onstage for a freaky dance party that brought the house down. Ashley Naftule
Bear Ghost Covering Queen
March 29
The Rebel Lounge
Unless you are Adam Lambert, you should not cover Queen. Bear Ghost proved me wrong with a spot-on cover of the quartet’s hit “Don’t Stop Me Now” at our Phinal Phour show at The Rebel Lounge. Their bravery for pulling it off won them a place in my heart. Jason Keil
RIOT! Women’s Pride Dance Night
April 1
Palo Verde Lounge
The monthly RIOT! Women’s Dance Night is hosted at the Palo Verde Lounge by a micro-organization of mostly female DJs called MUTINY! ????????! Tempe. And it is always good-weird. Its April date coincided with Pride Festival, which had participants in a way more imaginative zone, vogueing to everything from Blondie to La Roux. Lauren Cusimano
Steff and the Articles' “Keep You Around” Video
April 6
Yellowbox Films
As the debut single from the forthcoming album, Timekeeper, "Keep You Around" doesn’t waste any time hooking you in with a bright chorus, laced with a sprightly string section. The video is just as bold, featuring singer Steff Koeppen dancing through her lover’s quirks to find her joy in him. Ashley Harris
Lost Lake Festival's Lineup
Announced April 18
Steele Indian School Park
When Superfly, the company behind Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, dropped the lineup for the inaugural Lost Lake Festival, our jaws dropped. Chance, Pixies, Run the Jewels, HAIM, Calexico, and Huey Lewis? Yeah, we're down for that — and we can't wait for the fest to take over Steele Indian School Park in October. Becky Bartkowski
Read on for more of the best things we've heard so far this year.
Team Solo Patch CD Release
April 27
The Rebel Lounge
This might have been the best-kept local secret of 2017. Even though it wasn’t heavily attended, the band ripped the stage into splinters with their video-game/mad scientist feels. Lead singer and computer keyboard operator Chris Pena was just awesome, so into it and moving nonstop. See this fun band. Henri Benard
Dinosaur Love's The Gospel
April 28
Related Records
Who would have thought that one of the best local albums to come out this year would be about dinosaur conspiracy theories? Peter Kulikowski crafted a record full of driving garage rock organ sounds to soundtrack his tales of dinosaur saviors, meteor crashes, and Illuminati plots. Save us, Jesusaurus Rex! Ashley Naftule
Last Exit Live's Four-Year Anniversary Party
April 29
Last Exit Live owner Brannon Kleinlein threw an all-out local love fest to celebrate the venue’s biggest achievement to date. The bill included several heavy-hitting locals, and fans responded by packing the house and dancing all night. Last Exit is going stronger than ever, and looks like it's here to stay. Henri Benard
Bleached
May 3
Valley Bar
Fresh off a tour with The Damned, Bleached gave Valley Bar a nonstop mix of Ride Your Heart, Welcome the Worms, and new singles. The Valley Bar set was especially relatable during "Wednesday Night Melody." Because yeah, it was Wednesday night. Lauren Cusimano
Andy C at Bassrush Massive Arizona
Saturday, May 6
Rawhide Event Center
Dubstep, hardstep, future bass, and grime. The first-ever Bassrush Massive Arizona definitely lived up to its name when it blasted dance music fiends with an overwhelming onslaught of bass-heavy genres. Andy C amped things even harder by dropping a sonic bomb of scorching drum ‘n’ bass that was 80 minutes worth of exhilaration and face-melting fun unlike any other set that night. Benjamin Leatherman
Solange at FORM
May 12
Arcosanti
Solange played the first night of FORM 2017, and there was no topping that set. Bathed in red light and dressed head-to-toe in the same shade, the R&B singer commanded the stage, hit crystalline high notes, ran her band, and served up post-modern choreography at Paolo Soleri's experimental city. In other words, she out-FORMed FORM. Becky Bartkowski
Z-Trip at The Blunt Club's 15th Anniversary
May 26
Crescent Ballroom
Whenever Z-Trip gets behind a pair of Technics 1200s, it’s typically a master class in turntablism and rocking the record decks. Such was the case when the local legend headlined Blunt Club’s 15th anniversary, spending close to two hours spinning and scratching as he mixed and mashed up rap, funk, and rock with aplomb for a packed house. Benjamin Leatherman
Jerusafunk and I Am Hologram Performing The Goblin King's City
May 27
Unexpected Art Gallery
Playing original tunes alongside covers of David Bowie classics like “Changes” and “Magic Dance,” Jerusafunk and I Am Hologram were killer house bands for The Goblin King's City. Mixing puppets, stilt walkers, and two of downtown's most versatile bands together, it was a charming adaptation of Jim Henson's Labyrinth. Ashley Naftule
EXPAND"Prince Ali" at Phoenix Comicon’s Masquerade
May 27
Phoenix Convention Center
The ultra-catchy tune "Prince Ali" from Disney’s animated hit Aladdin never sounded better than when it was lip-synced by a crew of 11 during the cosplay masquerade at Phoenix Comicon 2017. Probably because it involved a rousing performance recreating that particular scene from the film with a show-stopping dervish of dancing, elaborate costumes, and an enormous papier-mâché elephant. Unsurprisingly, it won Best in Show. Benjamin Leatherman
City Hearts
May 28
Monarch Theatre
Desert Hearts' stop in Phoenix was, to me, a much-needed fusion of the rave and nightclub cultures. Each DJ performance was fresh, unique, and presented totally different styles of dance music along with a great selection of "I haven't heard this before" track choices. This show, along with other trends, has shown me recently that a new wave of post-EDM dance music lovers exists in mainstream music culture — and that they seek more creativity and technical prowess. Amanda Savage
Dead & Company
May 29
Ak-Chin Pavilion
Being a Dead gig, there were misses. “Dear Prudence” never clicked, despite Bob Weir’s clear passion. But there was transcendence, too. All doubts about John Mayer’s vibey credentials vanished during a soulful “Sugaree” and a dementedly fast close to “Casey Jones.” Following a gorgeously fried “Scarlet > Fire,” the temptation to follow along to California was tough to resist. Jason P. Woodbury
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