Well, it’s December, which means you can’t avoid it any longer: it’s time to start Christmas shopping. That’s my plan at least, a desperate attempt to get it done sometime before, oh, December 23, as is my usual scramble. But there’s plenty of music going on, too. After you get…
Drip, drip, drop. There’s nothing quite as soothing as a nice little December shower to cool the senses. Unless of course if you throw in a nice hot cup of coffee and some acoustic musings by Tucson pop rockers, Steff Koeppen and the Articles. Koeppen along with a violinist from…
Rachael Yamagata with Mike Viola Crescent Ballroom Wednesday, November 30 I first heard Rachael Yamagata two years ago when she opened for folk/rock duo Swell Season at the Mesa Arts Center. She played for only 45 minutes that night, but made a lasting impression with her witty banter and heartfelt…
If you want to get noticed on the internet, cats are an easy way to do it. If you have any doubts, just watch this Catvertising video. Roar, a local pop/indie band got hip to the cat formula for its most recent music video, “I Can’t Handle Change.” Sporting a…
Busy giving thanks over your four-day weekend? Don’t worry, here’s what you missed at Up on the Sun: Sister Cities and Doctor Bones The Rogue Bar kicked off Saturday night with a charismatic and interactive performance by Doctor Bones followed by local charmers Sister Cities. Both bands were on point…
The Devil Wears Prada Marquee Theatre Monday, November 21, 2011 I found myself at The Devil Wears Prada show in large part due to my kid brother. He’s been high on openers Enter Shikari for a couple of years now and asked me to accompany him to the show. While…
Marks Sultan, The Wrong Ones, Andrew and His Feisty Felines, and The Cosmeticators Trunk Space Monday, November 21 Mark Sultan: Someone has offered me a Xanax and an enema tonight. Audience member: Welcome to Phoenix! Such was the tone last night at Mark Sultan’s Phoenix stop. He seemed perturbed at…
Morrissey Orpheum Theatre Sunday, November 20, 2011 Click here for more photos by Maria Vassett Morrissey has never been the kind of artist to shy away from what’s on his mind. Animal rights is a topic near and dear to the man’s heart, and while songs like “Meat Is Murder”…
Immortal Technique at the Puente Office Friday was a good night to fight the powers that be, especially if you were in Phoenix around 13th and Van Buren. In the wake of the Pearce recall, Puente Movement and Sound Strike hosted a neighborhood style Hip Hop show to celebrate and…
Kreayshawn Marquee Theatre Saturday, November 19, 2011 I love Tempe for the most part. This city has lots of great restaurants and bars, but there are certain elements that drive me crazy. Thanks to a free Kreayshawn show and the big ASU/U of A game, most of the things I…
John Prine and Loudon Wainwright III Orpheum Theatre Saturday, November 19, 2011 Early yesterday afternoon, I found myself at Tempe Marketplace, wandering the parking lot dazed. Christmas music wafted through the air. With nearly a week left before Thanksgiving. Look, I get it, but I’m a traditionalist. Some people hate…
Mr. Meeble Crescent Ballroom Friday, November 18, 2011 Last night was Mr. Meeble’s homecoming after a two-month European tour that the group planned entirely on its own. The Crescent Ballroom gave Meeble a warm welcome, and judging by how many times frontman Devin Fleenor said, “It’s good to be back,”…
DJentrification’s weekly Palace World Music night at Filmbar always features far out world music, but this weekend, it’s got another goal as well. “I have been to South East Asia and feel very lucky for all the good people I met, for the records I was able to dig, for…
The Hype Music project has added another Arizona rapper to its family. Mesa’s lyrical linguist Hannibal Leq has joined the MTV and Extreme Music partnership. The last time we saw Leq he was rocking the microphone alongside The New F-O’s MCs Pancho and Lifted in our exclusive video. As a…
It’s another packed weekend in the Valley. Tonight, Sound Striker-Immortal Technique performs a benefit show at the Puente Office, and Mr. Meeble brings its crazy-as-hell laser show to Crescent Ballroom. On Saturday, you’ve got folk from Loudon Wainwright III and John Prine, and funky pop courtesy of Kreayshawn. And of…
Nowhere Man And A Whiskey Girl The Crescent Ballroom November 16, 2011 Being a critic is a funny thing. Namely in that, you have to be critical. But there’s a fine line between, “looking to find fault or to judge with severity,” and “skillful judgment.” With enough practice, I hope…
I’m not stoked on the current sound of “indie.” Real Estate play things more on the traditional jangle pop/C86 side of things, but the band fits into the nebulous state of indie rock circa 2011 — chillwave over there, lo-fi in the corner, new wave revivalism out back. The pretentious…
I had the craziest dream last night. Normally when people say that, their dream is actually pretty boring, but I swear to you, this all happened. …
Mergence’s 11.11.11. Show at Crescent Ballroom The 11.11.11 show featuring Mergence, Kongos, The Technicolors, and Huckleberry was long anticipated. And you could feel that excitement all throughout the night at the Crescent Ballroom. Arriving around 9:45 pm, the patio was packed, the lounge was packed with diners and hipsters, and…
The 11.11.11 show featuring Mergence, Kongos, The Technicolors, and Huckleberry was long anticipated. And you could feel that excitement all throughout the night at the Crescent Ballroom. Arriving around 9:45 pm, the patio was packed, the lounge was packed with diners and hipsters, and a small population of fans was…
Since 1984, TED has dedicated itself to providing a platform where world-changing ideas are exchanged from speaker to audience. The abbreviation stands for technology, entertainment and design. The “x” in TEDx simply means it’s a completely independent event, organized by local volunteers; a new facet of the organization introduced in…
Sometimes you see a press photo of a band and laugh. Is one guy staring artfully away from the others? Are they pressed against a brick wall? Are they all making the goofy face? Phoenix-based metal band Howitzer isn’t having any of that. Seriously — look at these guys. They…
