Slayer, Megadeth and TestamentAugust 27, 2010Dodge Theatre About halfway through Megadeth’s set last night at Dodge Theatre, it hit me like a ton of bricks: we won! We actually won! By “we,” I mean thrash metal, of course – the bands, the fans and the music. After nearly three decades…
The MaineAugust 27, 2010Nile TheaterIt was teenage girl heaven at the Nile Theater last night, when local pop rock band The Maine played the last night of their current headlining tour and made a young lady-filled crowd go wild. Singer John O’Callaghan told the crowd the band got to choose…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Nicole Pesce at My Florist Cafe. The look: Sleek, chic, and trendy. The smell: Salmon and warm bread. The taste: Savory, sweet, and filling. Three words/phrases to describe the night: Neon light,…
Meat LoafCelebrity TheatreAugust 22, 2010 As I sat through Meat Loaf’s concert full of epic songs, costume changes, rhinestone studded jackets, and women clad in pleather and lace, I couldn’t help but laugh a little at over-the-top theatrics of show. Since Meat Loaf’s legacy, built up on albums like Bat…
Lords of Acid and My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult at Fetish Heat 2010 There were public whippings. There were a range of interesting and, in some cases, revealing costumes. What really rounded out the fun at Fetish Heat 2010 was house-destroying performances by the Lords of Acid and…
American Idol Live! August 12, 2010US Airways CenterFor Valley residents who always wanted to make it out to the American Idol studios but never did, last night at US Airways Center was their opportunity to see the top 10 contestants from 2010’s season perform on the big stage. Like the…
Weird AlCelebrity Theatre, PhoenixAugust 12, 2010Last night, I went to a multimedia pop extravaganza: A virtual who’s who of past and present Top-40 artists was represented, from Michael Jackson to the Biebs to Lady Gaga!Except they weren’t the ones singing. Weird Al was. True to form, he opened his show…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: RJ and Diane at the American Legion Post #44 in Old Town Scottsdale. The look: Classic southwestern Americana. The smell: Red meat and vegetables cooked with lots of butter. The taste: Home…
Lollapalooza 2010 on Sunday was a little off from the other days from the start. At the begininng of the day, it looks like the elements were going to ruin the day with a nasty storm running through downtown Chicago. Thankfully, the sun came out in the midst of Switchfoot’s…
Toby Keith at Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre on 8/8/2010 I have to admit I went to Toby Keith’s show at Cricket only partially to hear classics like “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!” Sure, it’s always nice to hear Toby belt out his Blue Collar anthems,…
Deceased, Rumplestiltskin Grinder, et al.UB’s Restaurant & BarAugust 8, 2010 In most Christian sects, Sunday is typically reserved as a day of rest, but last night at UB’s there was no rest for the wicked, as six bands converged on this Mesa club to provide a night of demonic delight…
Toby KeithAugust 8, 2010Cricket Wireless AmpitheatreI have to admit I went to Toby Keith’s show at Cricket only partially to hear classics like “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!” Sure, it’s always nice to hear Toby belt out his Blue Collar anthems, and, yes, Toby…
If you’re going to play a festival, there’s a delicate balance to walk. Sure, you’re an artist enthusiastic to show off your careful crafted work to an appreciative audience, but while there are going to be some of your fans in attendance, there will be a ton of people who…
There are people who just don’t like music festivals. It won’t matter who’s on the bill or whether the show is in the middle of the desert or the center of a city; they’re just not interested in seeing bite-size sets crushed by an often bikini topped mob. Don’t get…
This is part of a series of reviews of bands who play weekly at local bars. The show: Ronnie Winters at Rosie McCaffrey’s. The look: Standard Irish pub. The smell: Residual from pub food consumed earlier in the evening. The taste: Thick, dark, beer. Three words/phrases to describe the night:…
Everyone likes Daft Punk (or at least claims to). At this point it’s considered socially unacceptable not to at least “respect” the duo’s music as being “influential” (this response was originally created by people who don’t like the Beatles but don’t want to argue about it for the next hour)…
Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour at US Airways Center on 7/31/2010 There’s no doubt that Lady Gaga’s sold-out Phoenix show was the most hotly- anticipated concert on a lackluster summer schedule that’s been hard hit by the Great Recession and the Soundstrike. Actually, tickets to The Monster Ball Tour sold…
Hell yes the Lady Gaga show was crazy, but the after party at Crotch Rockitt with guest DJs Lady Starlight and Semi Precious Weapons was Monster Balls-to-the-walls. Peep our slideshow to see drinking, dancing, debauchery and outrageous club fashion at its Phoenix finest. Crotch Rockitt takes over Club Forbidden, 6820…
Lady GagaUS Airways CenterJuly 31, 2010There’s no doubt that Lady Gaga’s sold-out Phoenix show was the most hotly- anticipated concert on a lackluster summer schedule that’s been hard hit by the Great Recession and the Soundstrike.Actually, tickets to The Monster Ball Tour sold out months ago (sell-outs are usually a…
Landmine MarathonYucca Tap RoomJuly 31, 2010Fresh off a month-long U.S. tour, Landmine Marathon looked anything but tired last night at the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe. In their first ever gig at the Yucca, the band tore through a brief-yet-ferocious set that spanned all three of their albums and left…
T-Model FordThe Rhythm RoomJuly 29th, 2010There’s a scene in the 2003 documentary on the early Fat Possum Records roster, You See Me Laughin’: The Last of the Hill County Bluesmen, where James “T-Model” Ford recounts to director Mandy Stern about a when he was 11 and his father savagely beat…
Lyle LovettCelebrity TheatreJuly 28, 2010″It’s just like coming home for me, coming to Phoenix,” uttered Texas-bred country music legend Lyle Lovett last night. And with such good timing.As much you or I love Arizona, currently it’s in the kind of situation, both politically and culturally, that makes it sort of…
