When Joseph Mount of London-based Metronomy listened to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, he realized he’d have to change the direction of “Boy Racers,” the most upbeat song on his band’s 2013 album, Love Letters. He had intended to have the song include a German narrator speaking about how fast…
As a drummer, Brann Dailor makes even the most complex songs seem simple. As the rhythm machine behind progressive metal titans Mastodon, however, it’s obvious the apparent ease is a product of enormous skill and loads of practice. But when singing is added to Dailor’s to-do list, things get much…
Punk rock comes in all shapes, all sizes, all colors, and all genders. Originally, it was a badge of courage with the ability to supersede all of the aforementioned labels, but somewhere along the way, it has segmented itself like other aspects of society — probably because of the stupid…
Jean-Philip Grobler of the synth-pop band St. Lucia has traveled internationally since he began making music at 12 years old. It’s hard to believe that Arizona has not yet been a pit stop. “I have never been [to Arizona], but all the pictures I’ve seen are absolutely beautiful!” Grobler exclaims…
Those who showed up early to the Bombay Bicycle Club show in April at Crescent Ballroom were privy to the layered experimental sounds of Winnipeg’s Royal Canoe. The sextet, making its inaugural trip to the Valley, stood like a group of mad scientists over their boards and laptops to create…
Former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven once told me that rock ‘n’ roll is created because people are subconsciously trying to form the perfect family that they didn’t experience as children. As transparent as that may seem, it’s an easy concept to grasp. Heavy metal lyrics celebrate the underdog…
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: KUKQ is dead and its demise is due, in part, to the influence of a bigger and more powerful local alternative radio station. No, this is not a rerun from the mid-1990s. And by the way, we’re referring to both KUKQs –…
In the last five years, French-Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux has risen into the cream of the crop of serious Latin American artists using music to raise social consciousness. Building an audience to unfold social and political discourse demands a certain level of recognition. Some people point to Tijoux’s performance at…
The blues keep hopping throughout the Valley during the weekdays, thanks to Buzz Fowler. Fowler started blues jam parties at the El Dorado Bar and Grill in Scottsdale on Wednesday nights and the Steel Horse Saloon in Deer Valley on Thursday nights. Now, Stacy’s Smoke House BBQ on Main Street…
It’s easy to hate on Skrillex or even just razz the dude. Probably since the erstwhile screamo frontman, once known as Sonny Moore, is sui generis and a polarizing figure in electronic dance music who provides critics with plenty of ammunition. For starters, there’s that funky hairstyle (a.k.a. the “Skrillet”)…
It hardly seems that 14 years have passed since Canada’s New Pornographers dropped their debut full-length, Mass Romantic, upon a whole lot of virgin ears. To say that the indie power-pop band’s initial offering was well-received is an understatement. Critics went cuckoo for it, and the recording found its way…
Not often do you see an Australian folk-rock band and a Korean folk band on the same bill. It’s actually very rare you see a Korean folk band at all. While both Boy & Bear and Run River North come from different backgrounds and musical influences, they’re currently touring together…
What if you could donate to your favorite aspect of heavy metal and receive a private drum lesson with Sacred Reich drummer Greg Hall? Or 25-year-old Metallica shirts that were never even for sale, just given to the crew? Or lunch with Veronica from Benedictum, a recording package at a…
Isn’t this place supposed to be a desert? This new weather system that is moving in promises to bring about a half-inch of rain has already done some damage. Stateside Presents announced today via a press release that the Belle & Sebastian show scheduled for Civic Space Park on Wednesday,…
Duel in the Desert this past weekend at Celebrity Theatre almost became “Deuce in the Desert,” thanks to the antics of controversial L.A. battle rapper Daylyt. That’s because the notorious MC — whose previous stunts include declaring that he’d “fuck Diddy” or performing autofellatio while performing — attempted to take…
Craving a respite from the same stuff you’re hearing on the radio? Check out these four new locally released songs, flavors for any musical taste. “Looking at You,” Jane Joyce Local singer-songwriter Jane Joyce worked with producer Gardner Cole for her new track “Looking at You,” a song she said…
Next month’s Global Dance Festival in Tempe just got more global. Organizers of the outdoor electronic dance music massive at Tempe Beach Park announced two additions to its lineup yesterday that might get fans of both kinky bass and vocal trance stoked for the event…
Summer is officially over, which is both a blessing and a curse. Yeah, the heat may have dissipated (for the moment, at least) but that means the end of all those groovy pool parties. As the swim soirees drop off, however, you’re gonna see club scene activity pick up a…
Khayree Billingslea has some pretty strong feelings about the Tempe Police Department’s Safe and Sober Campaign, the city’s annual zero-tolerance crackdown on parties, underage drinking, and impaired driving. “The city of Tempe turned this place into a police state for three weeks under the guise of preventing people from drinking…
UPDATE, October 7, 2014, at 11:37 a.m.: Due to expected rainfall, the Belle and Sebastian concert has been moved to the Orpheum Theatre. Belle & Sebastian guitarist Stevie Jackson hoped to be celebrating Scottish independence. What better way to commemorate 18 years of making music, the re-release your out-of-print vinyl…
Our annual celebration of the best of everything Phoenix is just around the corner, and in addition to local food and booze, Valley musicians will be providing the entertainment. The event takes place Saturday, October 4, at Burton Barr Central Library. Samuel L Cool J will provide their cool, retro-soul…
It’s said you have your whole life to write your first album. Tucson songwriter Billy Sedlmayr would probably laugh — one of the distinct, wheezing chuckles the Tucson songwriter punctuates most of his statements with — at that sentiment…
