Pop Punkers Dogbreth Reconcile Dreams With Reality

Tristan Jemsek, one of the primary representatives of Phoenix’s thriving downtown DIY music community, took off for Seattle early this year, leaving behind his bandmates. Settling in Washington, he took a break from playing music for the first time in more than a decade. “I spent the first four months…

How Vic Mensa Dropped Acid and Almost Killed Himself

Vic Mensa doesn’t hesitate about taking risks, but for too long, those risks were with his personal health. As the Chicago rapper and Savemoney founder rose in popularity and began collaborating with the likes of Kanye West and Skrillex, his drug use began to damage his personal life and mental…

Here Are All the Musicians Who Died in July 2016

We went into 2016 with a bunch of whopper deaths  in the rock pantheon and for a while it looked like they would continue unabated. As far as legends go, few of this month’s casualties would qualify as that. But what we do have are a lot of journeyman players…

New Music from Injury Reserve, PRO TEENS, El West, and More

Injury Reserve — “Oh, Shit!!!” My only regret when compiling last year’s list of best local albums was that I accidentally overlooked Injury Reserve’s magnificent album Live From The Dentist Office, and it should have been toward the top. Injury Reserve has hinted to fans that the release for its second album, Floss, is…

The Best Things We Overheard at Gathering of the Juggalos

Juggalos are hilarious. All weekend long, if you could hear them over the boom of fireworks and horrorcore rap, Gathering attendees were dropping one-liners faster than a classic Simpsons episode. Not always intentionally, but still. So thanks for the laughs and the memories, ninjas. And here, without further ado, are…

Donald Trump and Juggalos Have More in Common Than You Might Think

I’ve been reading Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal, which was ghostwritten by Tony Schwartz, who channels Trump’s daily deal-making in what is basically a window into the life of a more charmingly juvenile version of Gordon Gekko. I like this book a lot, if only because it reads…

Juggalos Are the New Ravers

Of all the ways I thought I would be describing my first Gathering of the Juggalos, “like my first rave” was not on the short list. But after less than 24 hours among the fans of Insane Clown Posse, that’s how I’m feeling. It’s like I’ve traveled back in time…

Sibling Bond Forms Puro Instinct’s Core

Reinvention is the mother of necessity for Puro Instinct. Centered around sisters Piper and Skylar Kaplan, Puro Instinct was once one of the buzz bands of the moment — 2011 saw the release of their heralded Headbangers In Ecstasy, a woozy, of-the-times record that brought the likes of Pitchfork knocking…

We’re Going to the Gathering of the Juggalos

After a much-needed two-year hiatus from the madness that is Insane Clown Posse’s annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival, we’re happy to report that this year, we’re going back. We’re is off to Thornville, Ohio for the Gathering, which runs July 20-23, and will be reporting throughout the week on all…

New Music from AJJ, Jared & The Mill, Diners, and More

Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best new local music in his column, Right Hear, Right Now. AJJ — “Goodbye, Oh Goodbye” It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than two years since AJJ (formerly known as Andrew…

The New Zia Records Store in Mesa Will Open on Friday

The wait is over for music lovers in the East Valley. Zia Records will open its brand-new Mesa superstore on Friday, July 15, at 9 a.m.  The company first announced the store opening back in April. The Mesa location will be Zia’s fifth location in the Valley, and the second…

All The Famous Musicians Who Died In June 2016

Here we are at the midway point of what has been the worst year for music having nothing to do with what was issued and everything to do with who was discontinued. “Sure,” you say. “We lost a lot of giants early in the year like Bowie and Prince, but…