I will be the first to admit that I had no clue about San Diego garage/folk rockers The Donkeys until someone dutifully pointed them out for me. You see, The Donkeys have a show this Saturday at the Yucca Tap Room and I was asked if I wanted to catch…
Bill CallahanThe Rhythm RoomWednesday, June 15His reputation as a “sad guy with a guitar” notwithstanding, one defining element of Bill Callahan’s music struck me the most while listening to him at The Rhythm Room last night: his sense of humor.Don’t misread me; Callahan never even cracked a smile. But he…
Bruno MarsJune 15, 2011Comerica TheatreWhat a long way Bruno Mars has come in the last 8 months since he’s been to Arizona last. Back then, his single “Grenade” was just catching on, and he packed a sold-out Martini Ranch. Now, he’s got a third solo single under his belt, “The…
Matt and Kim Marquee Theatre Tuesday, June 14, 2011I’ve been told time and time again that I need to see Matt and Kim live. I almost made it happen last year, but their Clubhouse Music Venue show sold out before I could get tickets. From friends and reviews, I gathered that the…
Virtuoso Brian Carroll, better known as Buckethead, is an unheralded musical genius. Sure, it’s weird that he performs with a bucket on his head and a white costume mask as he assumes the role of a character who survived a “chicken holocaust,” but anyone who’s listened to his solo works…
This was the twentieth Circus Mexicus yet. It’s a Phoenician tradition of sorts. An excuse to pack up the kids, head down to Mexico, drink beer, eat fish tacos and watch Roger Clyne perform for the umpteenth time. While that might make for a fun weekend, the same old story doesn’t make for a good one. Absurdity however, does.
The 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation, about how everybody is ultimately connected to everybody else through somebody else, has spawned some spin-offs — most notably, the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,” where the goal is to show how every movie star can somehow be connected to the Footloose…
Cake and Calexico Mesa Amphitheatre Friday, June 10, 2011 Calexico and Cake on the same ticket…seems a little unexpected, right? The bands have more in common than meets the eye. Both bands use horns, and Calexico’s connection to Artists for Action makes them a forerunner for political change. What does…
Local indie rock band Tremulants is kicking off their coastal tour in Phoenix next Friday, June 17. The band plans to bring their dreamy, psychedelic songs to several cities this summer, but first, they need gas for front man Marco Holt’s van.It might seem illogical for them to play a…
Liz IsenbergTrunk SpaceWednesday, June 8, 2011 One of the absolute treats of a stripped down, do-it-yourself show is that a musician cannot hide behind bright lights, over-processed distortion, or the skills of other musicians. One mic. One voice. One presence. Touring artists Liz Isenberg and Vio/Miré, and Phoenix-based artists Courier…
Winter’s Bone- Music from the Film Performed LiveMesa Arts CenterJune 8, 2011Americana is a funny genre. It’s not fair to call every dude or lady in cowboy boots a poser — and, seriously, in 2011 the word poser sounds awfully outdated — but it does seem that the acoustic guitar-wielding…
According to the Urban Dictionary, “rug burn” is defined as “A rash or red mark on one’s body caused by the friction of one’s skin rubbing on a carpet or rug” and “The razor burn you get after shaving your crotch.” Scottsdale’s latest dance event is also called Rugburn. And…
Front Line Assembly The Nile Theater in Mesa June 7, 2011It’s not often that an old school industrial band comes through town and plays a venue that isn’t a sports bar or some shady, swinger-filled fetish club, but Front Line Assembly did just that and rocked the house at the Nile Theater…
Panic! at the Disco is back. Yeah, the band may be only a pair now since guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker left in 2009, but their new album, Vices & Virtues, is their best yet. Singer Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith left behind the 70’s feel on their…
GiversTrunk SpaceSaturday, June 4, 2011It’s not hard to tell when you’ve just watched a young, buzzworthy band perform. They usually thank the crowd for coming out — regardless of how big it is — while perhaps mentioning that it is the band’s first time in a particular town. Such was…
The Bled The Underground in Mesa Friday, June 3There’s something to be said for metal bands who can make the most of being buried underneath a booming rave. That’s what happened on Friday, as the three local bands who tore up the stage at The Underground — The Author, The Fair and…
Today is First Friday, which means a few blocks of central Phoenix will be transformed into an art walk/street fair tonight. But in addition to the art, antics, and people, First Friday offers a variety of live, local music.Here are some highlights of what’s going on where with local music…
Crystal AntlersThe Rhythm RoomThursday, June 2Last night, outside of The Rhythm Room, Damien Edwards of Crystal Antlers explained to me some of the band’s punk cred. “Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag, OFF!) is like our godfather,” the lanky percussionist said, smoking an American Spirit. “He saw us play in…
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.The Rhythm RoomWednesday, June 1, 2011Spoiler alert: If you’re at all up to date on any recent NASCAR happenings, there will be a totally corny comparison later in this review. For now, however, I will focus my energies on what took place last night at the Rhythm…
Here in the land of lizards and dust devils, you’d be hard-pressed to find many local bands willing to play outside in the cold. Tucson goth-surf-punk group The Mission Creeps are an exception — they played a New Year’s Eve party outdoors in Bisbee, where bassist Frankie Stein says they…
Phoenix Comicon 2011 In Photos If you attended Comicon this weekend, the chances are good that you’re currently nursing a pocky hangover (possibly a real one as well) and using Memorial Day to nap. While you recover from the sheer awesomeness, take a look back with these photos including costumed…
Randy NewmanThe Arizona BiltmoreSunday, May 29Randy Newman doesn’t need to tour. Grab a singer/songwriter record from the early ’70s, why don’t you. Look on the back, where the songwriting credits are. Chances are you see Newman’s name next to at least one of the songs. Maybe you saw Toy Story,…
