The changes that mark the Hold Steady’s new album are many. Starting out its second decade, the band added a new lead guitarist in Steve Selvidge. Singer Craig Finn left behind many of his signature lyrical elements. The band recorded with a new producer, Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones) in…
Nick Waterhouse is not part of a movement. Despite allusions to the soul sound of Daptone Records in Brooklyn, or the proximity to the rise of doo-wop and R&B in Los Angeles thanks to Burger Records, the still-young singer-songwriter is following a vision that is simply his. While rising to…
Lady Gaga brought her own version of the Electric Daisy Carnival to US Airways Center when her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball came through. The show featured neon ravewear and leg warmers, pacifier shots, glow-in-the-dark balloon backpacks, light-up squishy balls, and stuffed animals galore. It was the most colorful Gaga concert…
We bring you the finest musical offerings the Valley of the Sun has to offer you this week. Check out our comprehensive concert listings for more options…
Tori Amos, wearing leather pants underneath a long flowing dress, straddled herself on the piano bench in a position that would seem uncomfortable to anyone who played the 88 keys on a regular basis. She played “Parasol” from the 2005 album The Beekeeper with her right hand on a keyboard…
Well, it was bound to happen anyway. As one Facebook commenter put it, “They were responding to a call they got in the goddamn ’90s.” I’m talking about W___ S____, a South Phoenix storage unit turned underground show space that’s been hosting shows for nearly two decades — and was…
Instead of bitching about the weather, like we usually do here, let’s instead think of reasons why 113-degree temperatures are actually good. After all, if you live in Phoenix during the summer, the world is your sauna, am I right? And to think some folks like to be indoors when…
Perhaps the reason garage rock fits so well at The Trunk Space is because the venue is the size and shape of a good-sized garage. The acoustics are just perfect for it. I never realized that before and that makes me like the small venue that much more. Straight Straws…
On July 13, Sara Robinson and the Midnight Special announced through their Facebook page that they would be splitting with their original lead guitarist and chief songwriter Brandon Croft. Furthermore, the band announced that following their headlining date at Crescent Ballroom last Friday the band would be taking a hiatus…
If having a packed house from start to finish is the benchmark for a great show, then Dilated Peoples and Jurassic 5 had a great one July 19. The Marquee Theatre was full of hip-hop heads throughout the evening, from M.C. Supernatural’s opening freestyles all the way through J5’s encore…
’80’s hair metal kings Mötley Crüe held very little back in the production department when their supposed final tour made its stop at Ak-Chin Pavilion on Saturday night to a sold out crowd. While there were enough pyro, flamethrowers, female dancers, and a lighting spectacle that would make a Nelson…
First, the binge. Inevitably, the come down. This past weekend was a veritable musical orgy, as a flood of touring and national bands came through Phoenix. This week, things are a little drier. Check out our five favorite shows happening this week, and browse our comprehensive concert listings for more…
Since it’s the worst part of the summer right now, spending more than a few hours at an outdoor music festival, let alone an entire day, isn’t something we’d recommend. However, when late October rolls around (and Arizona feels less like Satan’s grundle) whiling away an entire weekend in the…
In summertime, when we put together this list of best shows to see in Phoenix on any given weekend, we don’t have very many options. It can be slim pickings for live music around here when it hits triple digits. Not this week. There are more concerts than you could…
Alter-ego Chris Gaines on the left, original persona Garth Brooks on the right. By Jaime Lees Inspired by Garth Brooks’ recent announcement of his world tour, we thought we’d take a minute to look back on our favorite era of Garth-ness: the invention of Brooks’ alter-ego, Chris Gaines. Alter-egos help…
It was a night of active rock radio hits, pyro, and more of what we’ve come to know from the best traveling hard rock music festival out there, as the 7th annual Rockstar Mayhem Festival made its way through Ak-Chin Pavilion on Friday. Nu metal pioneers Korn and Avenged Sevenfold…
Let there be rock, said Ronnie James Dio from atop his gnarled throne in metal heaven last week. And lo, did Dio send a monsoon of rock ‘n’ roll on Phoenix, from KISS/Def Leppard to Mayhem Festival. Someone prayed to a different god this week, because this week is (almost)…
Summertime sucks. But you know doesn’t suck? Air conditioned music venues, that’s what. Check out these six shows this weekend, and peruse our comprehensive concert listings for many more options…
If there is one thing that can never be taken away from the decade-old downtown Phoenix DIY venue The Trunk Space it is the bookers’ uncanny ability to put together a lineup that will leave the audience scratching its head. Such was definitely the case last night when the Rhode…
Jim LouvauKISS. Full slideshow here. The surroundings of a KISS and Def Leppard concert are one of the most entertaining parts about it, aside from the legends performing on stage. Wednesday’s concert contained a huge range of age groups, but the most amusing of them is what I like to…
Don’t let the haboob slow you down. It might be monsoon season, but that just means slightly cooler temps when you go to check out some sweet live music at night. Check out the following six shows if you’re looking for something to do, and don’t be afraid to check…
BroLoaf’s 5th Annual Patriotic Meltdown Yucca Tap Room Friday, July 4, 2014 Most Tempe residents flocked to Tempe Beach Park to watch fireworks on Fourth of July, which is a shame, because they missed out on a massive party at Yucca Tap Room. BroLoaf returned for its 5th annual Fourth…
