Travis James Is Raising Hell and Having Fun

It’s 2014 and high time you got some new music into your playlist — seriously. And that’s doubly true when it comes local music, of which there’s an abundance in metro Phoenix. The Valley’s music scene is gifted with burgeoning bands and emerging artists who will be making waves and…

Matt and Kim Donate $1,000 to Trunk Space’s Indiegogo Fundraiser

There’s just over 11 hours left in the Trunk Space’s oft-promoted Indiegogo campaign to raise enough cash for its 10th anniversary celebration and a new air conditioner. As such, there’s been a flurry of last-minute donations, including the crowdfunder’s biggest monetary gift yet, which came from some famous names: Matt…

Metalocalypse‘s Brendon Small: From Death Metal to Playgirl

Creating a virtual band that somehow became the highest-charting death metal band in history and posing in Playgirl magazine aren’t usually two things that go hand-in-hand. However, neither is directing a Soundgarden music video, then releasing a solo album, and co-headlining alongside Mastodon in said fictional metal band — just…

No Volcano Takes Its Love of Music Seriously

It’s 2014 and high time you got some new music into your playlist — seriously. And that’s doubly true when it comes local music, of which there’s an abundance in metro Phoenix. The Valley’s music scene is gifted with burgeoning bands and emerging artists who will be making waves and…

5 Must-See New Music Videos From Phoenix Bands

When they haven’t been busy rehearsing, recording, or playing out around town, five Valley bands — The Prowling Kind, Andy Warpigs, The Hourglass Cats, The Prowling Kind, Fairy Bones, and The Haymarket Squares — have been busying themselves in recent weeks planning and filming music videos for their latest tracks…

We Still Believe @ Location to Be Announced

The members of Rebel Disco are being tight-lipped about their newest hangout. After years of slinging beats at such Phoenix nightspots as Bar Smith and Club 24, the tastemaking local DJ collective has a new joint in town, which will make its debut Friday, February 21, during the We Still…

I Chaperoned a Middle-School Valentine’s Day Dance

Editor’s Note: Shea Serrano is an award-winning music writer and goofball whose recent exploits include Bun B’s Rap Coloring and Activity Book, and writes this weekly column about his life and times. 3:20 p.m.: Today I am chaperoning our school’s Valentine’s Day dance. A line of about 100 kids is…

The Most Metal Instruments at NAMM

A few weeks back, I wrote about the most metal moments at NAMM, but now I’d like to touch base on some of the amazing products at the one of the largest music trade shows in the world. Manufacturers seem to have found a way of creating affordable instruments that…

Things That Need to Happen at My Funeral

Editor’s Note: Shea Serrano is an award-winning music writer and goofball whose recent exploits include Bun B’s Rap Coloring and Activity Book, and writes this weekly column about his life and times. Earlier this week, I went to the funeral of a person that I cared about. While I am…

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds @ Yucca Tap Room

No matter who you are, it’s a pretty sure bet guitarist Kid Congo Powers has cooler friends than you do. After all, Powers (real name Brian Tristan) got his start in 1979 playing guitar with legendary punk-blues firebrands the Gun Club, then jumped ship in 1980 to spend a few…