The 10 most-read Phoenix New Times music stories of 2024

Phoenix New Times readers, we hear you loud and clear. In 2024, you wanted to know about venue openings and closings, major concert announcements and the latest local music news.

You also dove into stories about metro Phoenix's most iconic nightspots, the Arizona State Fair’s annual concert lineup and insights from music legends with local ties like Maynard James Keenan and Dave Mustaine.

Suffice it to say, it’s clear this year was all about staying dialed into the Valley scene.

Stay tuned in 2025 as we continue to bring you the latest music news and more engaging content. In the meantime, here are the most-read Phoenix New Times music stories of 2024.

10. Phoenix punk scene's 10 best albums ever

Punk rock will never die — and neither will Phoenix’s enduring love for the thunderous genre. To wit: Our rundown of the best records to emerge from the Valley’s punk scene since the early ‘80s was embraced by readers after its September publication. The list celebrated one of Phoenix's more vital and resilient scenes and showcased the diverse sounds it produced over 40-plus years — from the 1980 split 7-inch "K15 Presents 2x2" (featuring local ska pioneers The X-Streams and New Wave act The Nervous) to Yellowcake’s 2022 crust-punk banger "Can You See the Future?” Other standout albums highlighted include JFA’s underappreciated 1988 gem “Nowhere Blossoms,” Authority Zero’s 2002 classic “A Passage in Time” and AJJ’s folk-punk masterpiece “People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World.”

9. Char’s Has the Blues: The life and death of Phoenix R&B institution

When Phoenix’s beloved R&B joint Char’s Has the Blues closed in March, fans were devastated. Open since 1985, the 2,245-square-foot venue along Seventh Avenue south of Camelback Road was a live music institution for more than 40 years, hosting such legendary local blues, R&B, soul and funk artists as Big Pete Pearson, Chico Chism, Laydee Jai and Larry Bailey. After shuttering in 2020 due to the pandemic, new owner David Cameron transformed it into Char’s Live two years later. While it honored Char’s legacy and featured a similar many of the same performers who graced its stage back in the day, the bar struggled to recapture the same crowds and energy.

8. Tool’s Maynard James Keenan opening Arizona venue and record store

Maynard James Keenan gave us many reasons to write about him and his projects in 2024. The prolific singer, artist, winemaker and Arizona resident brought his three bands (Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer) to Phoenix, released new music and announced both a jiu-jitsu film and a new destination music festival in the Dominican Republic. If that weren’t enough, Keenan also relocated Puscifer the Store from Jerome to Cottonwood, transforming it into Queen B Vinyl Cafe — a record store, wine bar, coffee roaster, ramen house, hair salon and music venue. The enterprise (or should we say enterprises) opened in late October with various concerts and events, including performances by comedian Rory Scovel and “Star Wars” metal band Galactic Empire.

7. Your guide to the Arizona State Fair 2024 concert series

Concerts at the Arizona State Fair have always been a big draw. Held inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum since the 1960s, they’ve been a key part of the event’s mix of big-ticket thrills and hometown charm. (Legends like Nirvana, Korn, Green Day, Snoop Dogg and Bob Dylan have performed over the years.) Prior to the pandemic, concerts took place nearly every weekend during the fair’s month-long run and were free to attend. Since 2023, the series has featured more modest lineups and required reserved seating. The fair’s concert lineup continues to attract plenty of attention, with the 2024 lineup — including Big Time Rush, The All-American Rejects and Vanilla Ice — being no exception.

6. ‘Repo Man’ soundtrack showcases '80s punk from L.A. 40 years later

The 1984 cult sci-fi flick “Repo Man” turned 40 this year and marked the occasion in September with a deep dive into its landmark soundtrack and its collection of punk and wild, weird, underground rock. Curated by director Alex Cox with assistance from the members of Latino punk band The Plugz, the soundtrack was a snapshot of L.A.’s late ‘70s/early ‘80s punk rock scene with tunes from Iggy Pop, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag and Circle Jerks. No wonder we called it one of the greatest movie soundtracks ever made.

5. Phoenix Reddit names the grimiest bars in the Valley

In August, a user on the r/Phoenix subreddit asked for a roll call of the grimiest bars in the Valley. Local Redditors eagerly responded, listing a rogue’s gallery of notoriously gritty establishments, including Royale Lounge, Bikini Lounge, Maverick Saloon, and Mesa's Hambone Sports Bar. Topping the list—unsurprisingly—was Tempe’s infamous watering hole and occasional venue, Palo Verde Lounge, affectionately dubbed the “Dirty Verde.” If you’ve ever stepped into its dank atmosphere or graffiti-covered bathrooms, you’d likely agree. One Redditor summed it up perfectly: “Dark, kinda scary, low ceilings. And I hope it never changes."

4. Megadeth legend Dave Mustaine talks life in Phoenix before concert

Iconic frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine had plenty to say to Phoenix New Times over the summer while promoting Megadeth’s concert at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in August. The metal legend candidly discussed his 12-year stint living in the Valley (“It was too hot for me”), dealing with haters (“You just have to learn to avoid them”) and his feelings about other musicians (“I get kind of bored with some people’s songwriting”). Mustaine also talked up his battles with throat cancer and substance abuse, the meaning behind the songs on Megadeth's most recent record, "The Sick, The Dying … And The Dead!"

3. Tool’s Maynard James Keenan on life, music and turning 60

Maynard James Keenan didn’t hold back when speaking with New Times ahead of his Sessanta birthday tour stop at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in April. He took aim at concertgoers glued to their phones, saying, “You’re annoying the person behind you. They shouldn’t have to watch the show through your phone.” Keenan was equally frank about his secrets to success: “At this age, I’ve figured out you have to put the work in.” He also credited his tireless work ethic, adding, “I’ve kind of figured out ways to do things with, yeah, efficiency.”

2. Graham Central Station: A look back at Phoenix’s legendary nightclub

Back in the early ’80s, Valley residents flocked to the original Graham Central Station in Phoenix. The 440,000-square-foot honky-tonk, dance joint and venue near 33rd Avenue and Indian School Road was Arizona’s largest nightclub and boasted enormous dance floors, two stages, multiple bars, a mechanical bull and an arcade. While country music reigned — acts like Hank Williams Jr., George Jones, and Reba McEntire performed there — it also hosted future icons like Adam Ant, Oingo Boingo, Paul Reubens, and “Weird” Al Yankovic. A hub for nightlife and entertainment, Graham Central Station holds a special place in the hearts of old-school locals, making our July retrospective on its legacy a hit with readers.

1. Then and now: 25 legendary Scottsdale nightclubs and venues

Scottsdale bars and nightclubs tend to come and go, but some stick around long enough to leave lasting memories. The city’s famed entertainment district has continually evolved over the decades, replacing older spots with newer, bigger and flashier options for clubgoers and music fans. Back in September, we took a look back at some of Scottsdale’s most legendary bars, clubs and venues from the past 30-plus years, such as iconic dance havens like The Works and Sanctuary and such concert spots as The Rogue Bar and Martini Ranch. It packed enough nostalgia that you could practically smell the Axe Body Spray.