Concerts

By Yvonne Zusel

When you see an electric cello leaning against a chair during sound check at a rock show, you know you’re not in for…well, a typical rock show.

By Michael Lopez

Taking the stage in his Army of Darkness t-shirt accompanied by Zombie Nation’s hit “Kernkraft 400,” (as heard in many sports arenas) Illinois’ own MC Chris welcomed the flood of cheers from his loyal, nerdy fan base. Chris Ward IV knew just how to get them riled up for his entrance, showing his favorite clips from Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 before he took the stage. I knew going into this concert I would encounter a lot of sci-fi themed fanboy antics, so having “Bruce Campbell” (the star of the Evil Dead series) act as the buffer between opener Totally Michael and MC Chris made all the sense in the world.

By Jonathan McNamara Something amazing happened at Clubhouse Music last night. In the old tales of concert-going I’ve heard of this mysterious phenomnenon called “interaction,” but it wasn’t until a group of Japanese musicians in orange jump suits with rectangular sunglasses took the stage at the Clubhouse that I witnessed…

By Martin Cizmar

As promised, we’ve got a link to New Times Staff Writer, and former Music Editor, Niki D’Andrea’s review of last night’s Metallica show for Spin.com.

By Martin Cizmar

It’s not often that a band’s only top 10 hit is the low point at a concert – let alone by a band that’s been around 25 plus years and released 40 plus singles – but that’s exactly what happened Tuesday night in Glendale.

By Jonathan McNamara Weezer at The Arizona State Fair Music Editor Martin Cizmar admits that he’s been neglecting his old friend Rivers Cuomo. Streetlight Manifesto at The Venue of Scottsdale Streetlight Manifesto filled The Venue of Scottsdale with a skank-tastic Ska frenzy on Friday, October 17, 2008. Friday Night Out…

By Martin Cizmar

OK, I admit it, I’ve been neglectful of my old friend Rivers Cuomo. I haven’t really paid much attention to Weezer since The Green Album and I haven’t seen him since 2002, when I went a couple shows to see The Strokes, who I was spending a lot of time with at the time, open for him. As far as I knew, though, Rivers was a little nutty, in a harmless sort of way, but seemed like a pretty cool dude. I wasn’t in touch much, but hearing the singles off the last three albums filter through the radio, it seemed like things were pretty normal. Rivers was doing his thing, I was doing mine, everything was cool. We weren’t close, like we had been back in my high school days, but I had no reason to suspect he’d fallen on hard times.

By Joseph Golfen Some say that punk is dead, but Streetlight Manifesto’s frenzied show at the Venue of Scottsdale proved that at the very least, Ska is still alive and kicking widely. Friday night’s show packed the house with manic kids flailing their limbs to horn-fueled mayhem. See more shots…

By Jonathan McNamara Saturday, October 18: Weezer at the State Fair Here at New Times we’re trouble makers. That’s right, we eat our candy with the pork and beans. Which is why we’ll be venturing off to see Weezer at the State Fair. We swear it’s true. Oh! You’re planning…

By Martin Cizmar

Maybe it’s that I recently read John Sellers’ Perfect From Now On, a memoir which ends up being all about indie outfit Guided By Voices, but I couldn’t help but think about the band who gave We Are Scientists their name Monday night.

By Martin Cizmar It’s nearing 3 p.m. Monday and I’m still recovering from an amazing weekend in Rocky Point, where web editor Jonathan McNamara a few friends and I traveled to see Roger Clyne and the Peacemaker’s Circus Mexicus extravaganza. See more photos in our Roger Clyne and the Peacemaker’s…

By Jonathan McNamara Friday, October 10: Circus Mexicus Anyone else tripping down to Rocky Point for the three-day jam fest that is Circus Mexicus? If not, be sure to keep checking back with Up on the Sun for updates featuring Roger Clyne and all the wacky mayhem. Saturday, October 11:…

By Martin Cizmar

There were a bunch of upcoming shows announced this week, but nothing super high profile. For my money, the top announcement was Flo Rida, which will come to the Venue of Scottsdale on Nov. 1.

By Niki D’Andrea
Photos by Benjamin Leatherman

Better than: The first two presidential debates.

Henry Rollins is a man of many words. The former singer of Black Flag and Rollins Band is currently out on his umpteenth spoken word tour (labeled “The Recountdown Tour”) and this time around, he’s got plenty to say about politics, his travels, and the more ridiculous aspects of American popular culture.

By Martin Cizmar

Depending on who you ask, Cat Power is either really good or really bad live. In her younger days, as a notoriously stage-frightened boozehound, Chan Marshall didn’t impress anyone. Now sober and enjoying life, the indie diva mostly gets great write-ups praising her energetic sets and mesmerizing stage presence.

By Jay Bennett

“As I walk through / This wicked world / Searching for light in the darkness of insanity.”

Knowing I’d soon hear those lyrics being sung by Nick Lowe buoyed me Tuesday night as I sat watching a 90-minute performance staged by two politicians who dodged questions, offered empty promises, took cheap shots and, in the case of Arizona’s dubiously favorite son, espoused “record over rhetoric.”

By Jonathan McNamara Friday Night Out Phoenix Fashion Week continued after the catwalk at Radius Lakeside while kids got funky in Downtown Phoenix on Friday, October 3, 2008. Project Runway Designer’s Line at Phoenix Fashion Week Project Runway participant Emily Brandle and Michelle Chaplin were on hand to show off…

By Jonathan McNamara Last Wednesday, Music Editor Martin Cizmar gave mention of Futurekind’s CD release party held at Last Exit this past Friday. Always on the look out for a new source of sonic sensation, I took his advice and checked them out for myself. Now you can too even…

By Martin Cizmar

Did you miss Edgefest only to read our comprehensive coverage (last time I’m pimping it, I swear!) and realize your life will not be complete until you see Mickey Avalon and Kottonmouth Kings? Turns out you get another bite at the apple, as both acts announced local shows this week.

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By Martin Cizmar

So I don’t normally write about shows I don’t see, but I’ve been hearing enough complaints about tonight’s Mars Volta show that I had to throw up a post, if only to give disappointed Phoenicians a place to leave comments bitching about Cedric Bixler Zavala.

By Martin Cizmar

We haven’t had a chance to do a formal review of FutureKind’s new disc, Surround, here, but thought we’d mention their CD release party this Friday at Last Exit since they’ve got a great sound.

By Steve Jansen I’ve had a private relationship with Sigur Rós for years now. You see, the mood-driven Icelandic post-rock foursome is one of those groups that I can only listen to alone, usually when I’m torn up about something. The band’s sweeping instrumentals, charged by the eerie falsetto of…