Artist: FoalsTitle: Total Life ForeverRelease date: June 22Label: Sub PopThough I disagree with a commenter on one of my posts this week (Shawn from excellent local music blog Electric Mustache) about the merits of electro-punk Sleigh Bells, I agree with him that S.B. are a band that you either love…
You may not necessarily associate popular music with the Library of Congress, but a few recent inductees have just made the catalog a little bit cooler. NME reports that the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry’s recent inductees include: R.E.M.’s single “Radio Free Europe” Patti Smith’s album Horses Tupac Shakur’s…
Erykah Badu may not have canceled her show last night at Marquee Theatre because of any Arizona immigration laws, but the funky soul singer still managed to make some sort of statement, by wearing a T-shirt that read, “I am an immigrant.” She’s actually from Dallas, but whatevs. The crowd…
Charlie Levy, the boss over at Stateside Presents, one of the best promoters in the state, has written an open letter to bands boycotting the state because of SB 1070.The letter started circulating last week and The Arizona Republic ran it as an op-ed in this morning’s issue.I’d have trouble…
Song: B.o.B, “Nothin’ On You” (Remix: Breekpunt Bootleg)Context: I never really dug this song until this remix, for some reason. Nothing On You (Breekpunt Bootleg) by TheGetDownnn…
How will a band whose sound came of age in the previous decade enter into this newfangled 2010? With quite an interesting bang, actually.Sacramento-based dance-punk band !!! (pronounced chik-chik-chik for those uninformed/always curious but too embarrassed to ask) reeled off three albums in the previous decade, starting with 2001’s !!!…
Blitzen Trapper rose to prominence in 2007 with the release of their third record, Wild Mountain Nation, and signing with Sub Pop. Since then, the band has put out a new album every year, thus constantly remaining a focus of the media’s attention. Their latest effort, Destroyer of the Void,…
The guys in Phoenix pop-rock band Anarbor were stoked to add more stamps to their passports. After getting those passports before traveling to England this spring, they hopped on a plane in late May, flying to Japan for the “Beyond the Blue” tour, joining bands like Valencia and Artist vs…
When I drove into Harrisonburg, Virginia, again this month. I didn’t need the puddles on the ground to tell me that it had rained overnight — the air was already thick with the smell of dog food. Townsfolk offer all sorts of excuses for the precipitation-activated odor, but they should…
Artist: Pernice BrothersTitle: Goodbye, KillerRelease date: June 15Label: AshmontIt’s been mostly interesting and fun to hear what young indie rockers are doing to break new ground in popular music or what they’re doing to contemporize the established language of rock and pop. But at times this year, the simplest pleasures…
The Marquee Theatre’s phones have seemingly been busy all afternoon, which probably means folks are scrambling to get access to tonight’s Erykah Badu concert. If tickets are indeed sold out (and you also missed out on our giveaway), at least you can hang out at Groove Candy’s after-party later this…
A lot of people really love that chick from Rilo Kiley, you know, the one that used to be a child actress. Personally, I’ve always thought of Jenny Lewis as really, really fake. Also, her music sorta reminds me of Zooey Deschanel, whose charms I have thankfully but mysteriously been…
This week, New Times ran a box 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. Why did several local metalheads go to jail after getting tossed from Club Red for moshing?…
Wanna know the best place in the Valley to see The Summer Set when they’re not playing a show? Go to someone else’s show. Earlier this month, the pop rock band, who embarks on the Vans Warped Tour Friday, June 25, checked out Boys Like Girls at Venue of Scottsdale,…
Song: Erykah Badu, “Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)”Context: Ms. Badu is in Tempe tonight — this is her latest single. Erykah Badu – Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY) by Hypetrak…
Lady Gaga always manages to find a new way to challenge convention and shock both her fans and detractors. This little piece of gossip goes far beyond the usual stage antics though.According to NME, Gaga is using Gunther Von Hagens, the same scientist who is responsible for the controversial Body…
Artist: The RootsTitle: How I Got OverRelease date: June 22Label: Def JamAs we inch closer to the midway point of 2010, the fine gentlemen over at one of Up on the Sun’s favorite blogs, Electric Mustache, have posted their top 10 records of the year. They’ve got two lists up…
Looks like Psyko Steve’s annual Indie Bowl won’t remain Phoenix’s only charity tournament featuring local bands.The Maine, A Change Of Pace, Reece, Halocene, The Season Premiere, Culture Chemistry, Crash Coordinates, Square Eyes, Milo The Mayor, and My Girl Friday are all signed up for the first Project Homeless tournament by…
Song: The Black Keys, “Unknown Brother”Context: The standout track on the new Black Keys’ record, Brothers. 13 – Unknown Brother…
First let me say right up front that I don’t agree with SB 1070. I think it is veiled racism that is self-serving for those bleeding-heart, Arizona-bred conservatives out there who sit at home scheming up ways to make the state, at least by their standards, “perfect.” It is soul-crushing to know that…
The song employs a genius guest vocal from Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk fame splayed over a smooth, downtempo beat that is indicative of vintage “What They Do” mid-1990s Roots. It’s the perfect song for an impressive album from the hardest-working band in show business.It…
An altercation involving moshers, bouncers, and the Tempe Police Department may be headed to court.If you follow the local metal scene, you may have heard about an incident at Tempe’s Club Red involving Mesa metal act Rising Pain, who were opening for Dutch death-metal outfit Pestilence. After bouncers tossed a…
