Calexico, “Ready To Start” (Arcade Fire cover)

​Song: Calexico, “Ready To Start” (Arcade Fire cover) Context: In honor of this crazy “new” band Arcade Fire apparently no one’s every heard of (despite the fact that they had a #1 album on the Billboard chart last year) here’s Arizona’s own Calexico covering “Ready To Start” from an album…

Beliebers Are Sore Losers After Grammy Awards

Apparently Justin Bieber fans can be bitter and vicious, according to Billboard.After a loss for Bieber for Best New Artist award at the Grammy Awards last night, Beliebers took to the internet to express their anger with the intent to directly attack Esperanza Spalding, the talented jazz musician that took…

Strong Beer Fest Names Captain Squeegee Headliner

First, some sad news: 2 Tone Lizard Kings will not be playing this Saturday’s Strong Beer Festival at Steele Indian School Park. When organizers approached the Mesa ska band that’s been getting rave reviews at the festival for four years in a row, they were told the band was already…

NOHO: The Hangover Defense–Does It Really Prevent Your Hangover?

​​Getting wasted while watching a concert is pretty commonplace, and if you’re like me, then drinking makes even the most boring show a little more bearable.But, inevitably, I’d have to be productive the next day at work – -something a hangover doesn’t help.That’s why this past weekend’s Super Bowl (also,…

The David Mayfield Parade – Noreen

Song: The David Mayfield Parade, “Noreen”Context: The debuet album from The David Mayfield Parade has been one of my favorites of the young year. This song, “Noreen,” is particularly great but the entire record features great blues-meets-indie vocals and hard country chords and from the stand-up bass playing brother of…

Lady Gaga Drops Single ‘Born This Way’

The time has come for Lady Gaga to resume control over your radio. Ms. Gaga dropped her brand new single “Born This Way” this morning, according to SPIN.The song “Born This Way” is the first track to be released from her upcoming LP of the same title, which will be…

Michelle Edwards, What Are You Listening To?

​Michelle Edwards The local improviser performs with Dangerville at 7 Minutes in Love on Saturday, February 12 at Space 55 at 9 p.m., immediately followed by Dangerville in the Cagematch improv competition, also at Space 55. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would…

Miranda Cosgrove – Dancing Crazy

Song: Miranda Cosgrove, “Dancing Crazy”Context: This is a weird one: Actress/teenie pop singer Miranda Cosgrove’s publicist has announced that her February 23 show at Tempe’s Marquee Theatre will be free. Yes, tickets has been priced at $27.50 but the show is now totally free. Weird, right? Guess Cosgrove is not…

Silver Medallion, Yuck, Pete Yorn and More in This Week’s Issue

In this week’s music feature newly-promoted Assistant Night and Day Editor Benjamin Leatherman talks with Oren J of Silver Medallion about the group’s just-released album No One Ever Really Dies, which Oren finished after the tragic death of his partner Carnegie last fall. The Silver Medallion story is a touching…

Activision To Discontinue Guitar Hero and DJ Hero

The Guitar Hero franchise has officially been canceled by video gaming publisher Activision, according to Blabbermouth.The decline in the game’s popularity was significant enough to make the company pull the plug. The DJ Hero franchise will also be coming to an end.Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg noted a recent steep…

Pete Yorn’s Take on the Silliest of Silly Little Love Songs

Valentine’s Day is the one day out of the whole year when you have the opportunity to show your special lady just how much you care. Technically, there is your anniversary — it’s very important you do that then also. Oh, and there is also her birthday — that’s another…

Download New Strokes Single “Under Cover Of Darkness”

“Under Cover of Darkness” is now available for download via The Strokes’ official website. Offer up your email and birthdate and you’ll get the band’s first new material since 2006’s First Impressions Of Earth — remember that album? Worry not if you’re struggling to name that album’s lead single (“Juicebox”) — Angles,…

Ride’s debut album, Nowhere, gets 20th Anniversary Edition with Bonus Live Disc

One of the touchstones of the short-lived-but-fondly-remembered shoegaze movement, Ride’s debut album, Nowhere, has been given the deluxe 20th anniversary treatment for re-release with a bonus live disc on Rhino Handmade. Along with My Bloody Valentine’s classic, Loveless, Ride’s remarkable bow towers over the rest of shoegaze, including both bands’…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 2/10 Issue

This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts… What was really behind the White Stripes breakup and where does Meg White go from here?…

Smith Westerns – Smile

Song: Smith Westerns, “Smile”Context: Smith Westerns will be at Rhythm Room tomorrow night with Yuck. Should be an interesting show from a pair of buzzing bands. This song is from the new Smith Westerns’ album Dye It Blonde. Smith Westerns – ‘Smile’ by SpunkRecords…

John Legend Plays Extraordinary Show For Ordinary People at ASU

Arizona State University students couldn’t seem to get enough of John Legend at his Black History Month event at Gammage Auditorium last night.Not only did he give a fabulous 10-song performance, but before that he also delivered a beautiful loosely political speech about education and did a brief Q&A session…