Slipknot

Four albums in (five, if you’re an eBay-stalking obsessive), Slipknot is having an identity crisis. Frontman Corey Taylor’s side project, Stone Sour, has allowed him to unmask his sensitive singer-songwriter side, which is represented here on “Snuff” and “Dead Memories” — the former a half-acoustic ballad, the latter a slab…

Nelly

Brass Knuckles is Nelly’s Thriller. I’m not kidding. Brass Knuckles is not a perfect album, but neither was Thriller. It jumped styles and was not particularly cohesive; similarly, Nelly’s fifth CD skips haphazardly from dirty South jams (“Hold Up,” featuring T.I.) to G-funk throwbacks (“L.A.,” featuring Doggs Snoop and Nate)…

Flobots

Denver’s Flobots seem intent on fomenting a populist revolution — or, at least, cashing in on the sugarcoated, romanticized, anything-can-happen idea of one. Perhaps they’ve struck a chord, thanks in part to appearances on late-night TV talk shows, debut Fights with Tools is closing in on 200,000 units sold here…

Santana

Few artists have gone through more reinventions than Mexican-born guitarist Carlos Santana, going from his Latin-jam days fueled by his unforgettable appearance at Woodstock to his lackluster days in the ’80s (even though his band was still considered a top live act) to his resurgence after his multi-Grammy winner Supernatural…

Ra Ra Riot

When guitarist Milo Bonacci started Ra Ra Riot at Syracuse University in 2006, he was looking to put together a classical-tinged rock band that could stir up dramatic moods but also get a dance party started. On its just-released debut, The Rhumb Line, Ra Ra Riot strikes a fine balance…

Vampire Weekend Plays ‘Take Your Kids To A Concert Night’

It hasn’t quite been 11 months since Vampire Weekend released their first single, “Mansard Roof.” In that time, they’ve gone from the buzziest band since Arcade Fire, to a cultural touchstone for New Yorker types, to last night’s show at the Marquee, where a dad in jean shorts lifted his towheaded son on to his shoulders for a better view during “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.”

You Asked For It: Instant Hobo

I was once in a band. A hobo-themed band, actually. The Hobo Kin played our one and only show at a cemetery in Brimfield, Ohio on Halloween night 2002. We gave our fans – all girls we knew from our college paper – doughnuts.

Tow Jam: Cars Parked Near Dos Gringos in Tempe Get Cleared Out Every Weekend

Planning to party at Dos Gringos in Tempe this weekend? Watch where you park, lest you leave the club to find an empty slab of asphalt where your car used to be. Starting on Thursday nights, local towing companies have been having a heyday hauling vehicles from unauthorized parking spaces. The weekend of September 12-14, more than 40 vehicles were towed from the area. In many cases, clubgoers didn’t realize they were parking in tow-away zones, and were shocked when they had to shell out upwards of $140 each to retrieve their vehicles.

Club Candids: The Dubliner

By Lilia Menconi The Dubliner on Saturday, September 20th. It gets even better if you check the slideshow We had some pretty good luck when we hit up the North Valley a few weeks ago at Joe’s Grotto, so we thought we’d check out another neighborhood fave, The Dubliner, on…

Shiny Toy Guns at Martini Ranch

By Jonathan McNamara Shiny Toy Guns keyboardist Jeremy Dawson fiddles with a bit of plastic as he graciously subjects himself to a few questions courtesy of New Times. The band just finished their initial sound check and though they won’t hit the stage for a few hours, roadies and Martini…

Concert Calendar for This Weekend

The hard-rockin’ Swedes of The Hives are scheduled to perform tonight at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe. By Benjamin Leatherman Our new music editor Martin Cizmar’s going to see The Hives at the Marquee Theatre tonight. Meanwhile, web editor Jonathan McNamara will be rocking out to Shiny Toy Guns show…

The Ataris at Tempe Marketplace

By Jonathan McNamara Better than: any of the other shows I’ve witnessed at Tempe Marketplace See more shots in our Ataris slideshow. When New Times covered Carolina Liar in July, the crowd at Tempe Marketplace was less than half of what it was for The Ataris last night. Sure, Carolina…

Flier of the week: One

It’s a big concert weekend with The Hives and Eagles of Death Metal in town tomorrow. If you’re looking for a more danceable show check out One’s three year anniversary show at the Ruby Room. House DJ Jay Tripwire, a Canadian DJ that makes up half of ‘The Clones’ with Chicago’s Mazi. He’s known for deep house.

Ear to the Street: Immortal Technique

By Justus What’s going down, Phire city? All I gotta say is Immortal Technique! I went out to the show that was supposed to be at the Brickhouse but was moved to Martini Ranch in Scottsdale. An underground, revolutionary hip-hop show in Old Town? Wow! The homie Skunk One from…

Local Music Musings: Vinyl Dreams & The Jekyll/Hyde Scene

By Steve Jansen Want more JJCNV? Check them out on a recently-released 7-inch record. Just-Released Records: In the past week, my turntable has been on constant rotation due to vinyl releases by a number of local bands. One is the four-way, two-7” split featuring hard rockers Skinwalkers, polka freakout trio…