In heavy metal, there’s nothing better than an extremely talented guitarist. When a musician truly knows how to work some magic with that instrument it demands to be revered and acknowledged. But there’s a trade-off for said talent: Creative people are often labeled as “weird” by their peers from a…
Ever since the legendary Hollywood Alley closed earlier this month, the only thing that’s left of the renowned rock bar (other than many mementos of the place that were scooped up by regulars in the days following its shuttering) is memories. And plenty of ’em too, like 25 year’s worth…
Jamie Monistat VII is still in mourning over the recent loss of Hollywood Alley–so much so that the restaurateur and Blanche Davidian vocalist claims that he gets “bummed out at least 15 times an hour” about the closure of the Mesa bar earlier this month, as it was a favorite…
Miley Cyrus keeps breaking records. This week, her polarizing, bizarre, what-drugs-is-she-on? performance at the MTV Video Music Awards caused a Twitter avalanche, inspiring more than 300,000 Tweets per minute and upsetting the slightly classier Beyonce as the title holder of most Tweets in a minute in the process. As parents…
Sam Groove isn’t much of a gambler. However, the local DJ and nightlife promoter knows a thing to two about playing the odds, raising the stakes, and cleaning up big. For proof, just look at the success that Groove and the other EDM aficionados behind Hades Entertainment have had with…
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein is most often identified as a celebrated member of horror punk act the Misfits, brought into the band at the tender age of 16 in 1980. Originally a roadie for the band, he was taught how to play guitar by his brother, Misfits bassist Jerry Only,…
Rock ‘n’ roll, to paraphrase punk icon Poison Ivy, is for misfits. A refuge for outsiders, oddballs, or anyone else even a little bit strange. The description is apt for the recently closed Hollywood Alley and much of its patronage. Over its 25-year lifespan, the Mesa rock joint and restaurant,…
In December 2012, Dagwood Reed was singing, playing keyboards, and writing songs for his sci-fi-inspired local band, Se7en of Nin9. His romantic partner of nearly 20 years had passed away a year earlier from Addison’s disease, but the self-proclaimed most positive person he knows stayed in high spirits. He loved…
Heavy metal and contact sports always seem to go hand-in-hand. Both share the same kind of aggression and unpredictability. Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards has a “most metal athlete” category. And in football, one of America’s favorite sports to get all amped up about, teams trot out onto the field to…
Lonnie Holley’s art begins with troubled times. The 63-year-old’s first artistic project was carving headstones for his sister’s two children, who died in a house fire in Alabama in 1979. Since then, his found-object assemblages, paintings, and collages have endeared him to the fine art world — they have even…
“It’s money” opens Doris, the way-way-way-too-much-anticipated album from Odd Future standout and internal rhyme genius Earl Sweatshirt. “It’s money,” the intro repeats, “It’s money.” If you bought a physical copy, you’re hearing that opening while thumbing through the artwork: an intoxicated-looking (though he kind of always is) Earl standing next…
Think you’re down with hip-hop culture? Okay, son, then which of its four elements — be it rapping, b-boying, graf artistry, and turntablism — is the most vital part of its mix? According to veteran local selector DJ Akshen, it’s the latter, since the beats dropped from the decks help…
Sundressed, Diners, Green Line Operator, and Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold are among the well-regarded local acts performing Saturday at the Rogue Bar, but the headline fact of The Grandest Night of The Season is just what it’s benefiting: the memory of Dan Somers, a local musician whose suicide in…
The Senators are aware that their acoustic sound and vest-friendly look create expectations they didn’t even two years ago. “Everyone is wearing vests and suspenders now,” Jesse Teer told us back in December. “That look is just vogue right now.” Their sound is vogue, too — “Cross of Gold,” the…
Love symphony music, but hate tuxedos? Skip the traditional classical music experience characterized by stuffy crowds and head to Tempe Center for the Arts for a more laid-back show where the musicians dress casually and where attendees get a chance to get up close and personal with the performers before…
Tucson’s Human Behavior is in the business of making you feel more uncomfortable while a banjo is playing than you’re typically accustomed to feeling. All the elements are there for a typical banjo experience — close harmonies, light drumming, restrained, quiet peaks. You could assemble a folk-pop crossover band with…
Yes, we know. Your fake ID is spectacular. Nobody cards you because your mustache is simultaneously full and rich and completely earnest-looking. Your friends buy cases of Natty Light from extremely vigilant chain stores for sport. But if you’re just getting back in town for the fall semester and not…
Last summer, local metal band City in the Sea was included in our list of 10 Bands You Need to See This Summer. Since then, the five-piece band has been scooped up by Sumerian Records, and toured the country incessantly, including a spot on the epic production that is known…
The only thing better than rocking out to great live metal is rocking out for a great cause. With that in mind, four upcoming metal shows are celebrating metal legends and local idols, and they should have a spot on your concert calendar. We’re talking Slash, the best of Arizona…
Nate “Igor” SmithFor five magical days in August, Cave in Rock, Illinois hosted one of our favorite events, The Gathering of the Juggalos. Our photographer, Nate “Igor” Smith, took thousands of pictures at the Gathering, but some of the folks he captured stood out more than others. There was the…
Touring can be a hellish experience for performers. There’s the nonstop travel, fitful sleeping on trains and planes, and night after night (after night) of gigs. Just ask DJ Soulman, a veteran road warrior who’s spent decades touring with local rap-rock act Phunk Junkeez and as a globetrotting selector. He’s…
Yeah Yeah Yeahs were among the earliest members of their particular indie cohort to earn mainstream fame, but they wore it well — aside from the unavoidable song-fatigue side effects of appearing in a version of Rock Band, “Maps” seems to have avoided every possible pitfall on its way to…
