Van Halen – Monday, September 28 – Van HalenA small handful of players in rock history have dramatically changed people’s expectations of what was possible to do with an electric guitar. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I have to like their music, but it would be dishonest to say that…
For the second straight year, Saturday at Tempe’s Summer Ends Music Festival encountered an unexpected issue. At least this time they didn’t force everyone up the street into the Marquee Theatre. About two songs into Rebelution’s 7 p.m. set, the music stopped and an announcement came from the festival’s other…
I knew things had gone a little too smoothly on Thursday night, everything was like clockwork. With that in mind I was sure it would be the same case, but alas it was not. I approached the media check in with a smile and was very nearly scolded and told…
It’s safe to say that the first day of the Summer Ends Music Festival was a pretty great success, at least from a talent perspective. It honestly didn’t feel much like a festival so much as a concert in the park. Sure there were vendor, tents, and a massive stage,…
One of the coolest shows coming through town this week (and there are plenty) is happening at the Pressroom on Friday. San Francisco’s Thee Oh Sees will make their third stop in Phoenix this year, but this time they have two really cool opening acts, Tucson’s Lenguas Largas and Desert Hot Springs,…
There’s a story circulating about Royal Blood, the hottest export from England since fish and chips. The story claims that drummer Ben Thatcher picked up friend and bassist Mike Kerr at the airport and Kerr immediately said, “Let’s form a band.” Incredibly, the band performed its first gig the next…
While it might not necessarily feel like it right now, the summer is officially over. Yes, we’re aware that its still going to be hot for the next couple of weeks or so, but according to the calendar, the season that we all dread and ultimately must all suffer through…
Some things are best left to chance even after experience has long since taken hold. Take Cold War Kids’ latest single, “First,” off their recently rereleased deluxe version of last year’s record Hold My Home: Though the Los Angeles-based band has been together for over ten years now, the success…
Summer Ends Music Festival round two is right around the corner, and for its second year of early fall festing Lucky Man Concerts has brought Kanye West into the mix. What is the point of some other useless turn of phrase when the just the use of his name spruces…
Kanye West is one of the most influential rappers/producers of all time, there’s no doubt about that. Where he ranks among the all time greats will always be up for discussion, but the impressive combination of his own music along with the songs and beats he’s produced for others (not…
An hour after talking with Brandon Flowers, his publicist called me back to ask me to take out part of my interview. First, she thanked me for conducting it so early in the morning and let me know that Flowers had enjoyed speaking with me, which surprised me as he…
Justin Townes Earle – Monday, September 21 – Musical Instrument Museum Justin Townes Earle can tell stories. It’s what the Nashville-raised singer-songwriter has done for six years, writing albums that have placed him at the forefront of rusty, soulful Americana. His records drip with imagery — muddy rivers, ghosts, “Memphis…
If ever there was a sign of summer’s impending conclusion, it might just be this weekend’s slate of live shows. After a long hiatus, it seems like things are picking back up again around these parts, especially when it comes to live music. The Phoenix Symphony is back in session,…
Jack Johnston and Josh Montag want to bring back the sentiment of what albums “should be” to the Arizona scene. They recruited nearly 30 vocalists and musicians to play on their sophomore album, Modern Repair, on which the bassist and drummer asked their guest singers what they’d like to see…
While he doesn’t possess neither a stovepipe hat nor a bullwhip, esteemed dance music king Diplo is most certainly a ringmaster of the highest order. After all, he’s spent the last few years overseeing one of the larger and more vibrant circuses in the EDM world – namely, the Mad…
For twenty years, Destroyer, led by Vancouver native Dan Bejar, quietly released seductive, critically acclaimed music with his band. Bejar is also known for collaborating with A.C. Newman’s Canadian indie supergroup The New Pornographers as well as other musicians. Albums like Destroyer’s Rubies have songs that are an inside joke…
I went to what a snarky YouTube commentator would probably call a “hip-pop” concert last night. Usually, this is a term of derision by purists who feel that hip-hop should be about social commentary or lyrical craft rather than just catchy hooks and songs about clubbing, but it definitely has…
Most studio musicians pine for the kind of streak that bassist Stephen Bruner is on. In 2014, Bruner — best known by his alias “Thundercat” — contributed to Flying Lotus’ avant-garde electronic album You’re Dead!; in 2015, he’s an essential player on two of the most lauded albums of the year:…
Here are our concert picks for the week. As always, check out our comprehensive concert calendar for Metro Phoenix for more options. Carbon Leaf – Monday, September 14 – Musical Instrument Museum Theater After almost two decades together, Carbon Leaf (playing tonight at the Bluebird Theater with Chamberlin) has effectively…
Like Nickelback and John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band tends to make those listicles titled “Top 10 Most Hated Bands.” So, let’s just get this out of the way: The only thing that sucked at the Dave Matthews Band concert last night was the vacuum used between stage setups for DMB’s…
If there were a futuristic movie about a machine disguised as a human who could generate a new song every day, Billy Bob “Bud” Thornton would be the lead. In fact, the truth is probably stranger than fiction. Thornton, a real human from Arkansas, has written hundreds of songs, only…
Pinetop isn’t exactly known for being one of Arizona’s musical hotbeds, but it made a perfectly good launching point for young songbird Zella Day. The 20-year-old has a homecoming of sorts on Thursday, when she’ll be stopping by the Rebel Lounge to spread her brand of folky alternative pop across…
