People of the Valley of the Sun, fear not. Yes, you have suffered. Through July, with average high temps of 107 degrees, you have persevered. Through August, much of the same. Then in September, you weathered another type of extreme weather, as rainwater filled up city streets and turned neighborhood…
Right now, the world is the S.S. Turdboat and its fecal-matter hull is slowly dissolving in the piss that is society. By proxy, the United States is at war with Russia, not to mention Iraq again (or did that occupation ever really end?) as the war on drugs continues to…
Have you recovered from Mad Decent Block Party? Last weekend, everything musical in Phoenix paused to give space for what is arguably the largest EDM event that will happen this year. This week, the Phoenix music universe has adjusted, compensating for the overabundance of beats and turntables with a slew…
Filed under the category of “Everything That’s Not Mad Decent Block Party,” here are your five best options for live music this week in Phoenix. Be sure to check out our comprehensive concert listings for more options…
The Carnivores Tour featuring Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, and AFI hit the US Airways Center last night in downtown Phoenix.The evening included some of the best angst-driven rock anthems of the past 15 years — well, from at least two of the acts. The night began with a…
It’s rainy. Near-record-setting rainfalls smacked Phoenix in the lip last night, as you no doubt heard via the bomb-like thunder circa 4 a.m. today. Highways have flooded, schools have closed, and offices have turned into wastelands. One dramatic consequence of flooding is that people tend to cocoon themselves into their…
With all the city’s venue closings, Yucca Tap Room remains one of the few reasons to visit Tempe for live music. There are all the house shows, of course, but with Parliament and Long Wong’s gone, Yucca stands out the most. And Friday, it hosted a mini-showcase of the Valley’s…
Blake Shelton, The Band Perry and Neal McCoy Ak-Chin Pavilion 9/5/14 It’s the beginning of September, and it’s still more than 100 degrees after dark. Everyone within a seven-row radius is fanning themselves or buying water bottles to roll on themselves. All musicians, by the end of their sets, looked…
“Mexican rap at Herberger? How does one even begin to understand that?” exclaimed Phoenix resident Kimberley Corral upon seeing the electronic billboard outside the theater that read, “Bocafloja En Concierto.” This was a common reaction shared by a surprised audience that has always seen Herberger Theater Center as a setting…
Ding, dong, the witch is dead. (The witch is the heat, here; bear with me.) Supposedly. It might be September, but it’s still 106 degrees, but out-of-towners don’t know that. So with the turning over of the calendar comes a slew of great bands coming to Phoenix and a revitalization…
Your patience is about to be rewarded. Now that we’re quickly approaching the moment when all the you-know-what begins to fade, life will start getting back to normal in the Valley. And by normal, we mean must-see music events and gigs out the ying-yang. Over the coming weeks, show both…
When the lights went down, the screams inside Jobing.com Arena were ear-shattering. It wasn’t quite the level of Beatlemania, but it still caught me by surprise. Arena shows are known to be big with its lights, sounds, stage setup, etc. Sheeran entered the stage with just his guitar, and it…
Remember when labor unions actually added workers to their rolls? When it wasn’t considered “class warfare” for poor people to demand the government enact policies in their economic interests? Yeah, we don’t either. Our plans for Labor Day include a healthy dose of pool and beer, and here are some…
Experiencing Nickel Creek was almost perfect. So, before I go into what ruined the show for me, I’ll talk about all the things that worked so well. If there’s one thing we could all agree on it’s that Ikeda Theatre was a perfect match for Nickel Creek. Even Chris Thile…
We’ve checked out the calendar, and musically, it seems like summer is coming to end. Musically, at least. From here on out, there are a steady diet of great shows coming to town. Check out our picks below, and browse our comprehensive concert listings if you’d like more options…
Though not obvious, the connection is strong between punk and country music. Both genres can be rough around the edges, feature bad-boy frontmen, and contain songs about societal woes. Hank Williams III has turned his country music into a thrashing, moshing affair. Less outwardly abrasive, but no less fun, is…
By Keith Plocek This week, 68,000 revelers will descend on Nevada’s remote Black Rock Desert. (That is, assuming the rain lets up.) They will travel from Los Angeles, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, and places you’ve never heard of. They will take part in the temporary city that is Burning Man…
Has Tony Bennett ever played a bad show? It would be hard to find anyone who attended such a mediocre performance in the 50-plus years the man has been recording, let alone have it documented in print. Truthfully, it doesn’t seem possible. The 88-year-old legend came out dressed to the…
Keep going, y’all — the end of summer is almost here. And by that, we mean that the officially recognized transition into the season known as the fall will take place in less than a month’s time. Anyone who’s lived in the Valley longer than five minutes, however, knows that…
Locals shine this weekend. Wooden Indian, Playboy Manbaby, and Thin Bloods are all releasing albums, so there are plenty of ways to support local arts these next few days. We’ve sifted through the listings and selected five shows worthy of checking out this week. If you’d like to double-check our…
Your favorite band played for only an hour. Not an hour and 15 minutes. The big hand went around the clock just once. No further. The content of the show review below won’t matter to anyone who saw Interpol at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe in person. You left that…
Check out our picks for the best shows happening in Phoenix this week. Don’t forget the browse our comprehensive music listings if you’d like more options…
