Kristin Anderson, What Are You Listening To?

​Kristin Anderson The Fox10 news anchor is participating in the Climb to Conquer Cancer on Saturday, February 26. Go to www.myfoxphoenix.com to join her Fox10 team. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Probably a CD. But if I’m listening to…

J.D. Stooks, “Move To Portland”

Song: J.D. Stooks, “Move To Portland”Context: J.d. Stooks, the subject of this week’s music feature, says he thinks this song could be a perfect fit for the new show Portlandia. I agree totally. Move To Portland by J.D. Stooks…

The Strokes Album Was Delayed Due To Casablancas’ Differences

The Strokes’ experiences while recording their upcoming album Angles wasn’t so happy-go-lucky throughout the entire process, according to NME.There was plenty of resentment amongst the band members. Things got better after they moved to a new location to complete the recording process, but until then, frontman Julian Casablancas wasn’t consistently…

Ree Boado’s Radio-Ready Tunes Come from Her Dreams

Female indie musicians like Feist, Regina Spektor, Kate Nash, and Ingrid Michaelson have a beautiful, feminine innocence in their voices to go along with pop sensibilities. Yet their talent normally manifests itself in the form of background music in coffee shops. Seriously, almost every coffee shop in America plays Regina…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 2/17 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. Should indie rock fans be happy Arcade Fire won a Grammy or not?What did Justin Bieber’s…

Ree Boado – You Got Something

Song: Ree Boado, “You Got Something”Context: This local singer-songwriter, who we featured in print this week, is probably the most radio-ready local act going right now. She reminds me a lot of Regina Spektor. Ree Boado – You Got Something by mmcizmar…

Lil’ Kim Beheads Nicki Minaj on New Mixtape Cover

Nicki Minaj is dead to Lil’ Kim, according to Idolator.When will these chicks stop ripping each other off? Nicki Minaj’s whole character is partially modeled after and influenced by Lil’ Kim. If Lil’ Kim can’t be the bad chick on the block then someone had to replace her, and Nicki…

The Dears: Degeneration Street

You see, The Dears were among the first bands to popularize what has become a viable Montreal indie rock sound. The released their first album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, in 2000 — four years prior to Arcade Fire’s debut. Lead by the enigmatic vocals of Murray Lightburn, The…

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…