Andrew Jackson Jihad – We Didn’t Come Here to Rock

Song: Andrew Jackson Jihad, “We Didn’t Come Here to Rock”Context: Andrew Jackson Jihad plays Trunk Space tonight. This is a great song from a great record, Can’t Maintain. I was hoping for a new record from the folk-punk duo in 2010 but it never materialized. Let’s hope 2011 brings one…

50 Cent Sued by Caliber For Copyright Infringement

Part of G-Unit isn’t feeling so hot right now. Rapper and actor 50 Cent is being sued for copyright infringement, according to Billboard.It turns out that rapping about how you’ve got tons of money isn’t always a good thing. Atlanta rapper Caliber is filing a lawsuit against Fitty and the…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 12/16 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 Miley Cyrus smoking out of a bong?What does Insane Clown Posse’s official Christmas card look…

The Odd Life of Nude Piano Man Sweet Pie

They don’t come more original than Sweet Pie. The 67-year-old is, as far as anyone can tell, the world’s only nudist boogie-woogie pianist. The eccentric self-taught musician, born Paul Winer, roamed the country from 1965 through 1990, performing at ski resorts, colleges, and tourist spots all along the East Coast…

The Maine Make a Movie

Local pop/rock band The Maine seems to be on a quest for world domination. They’re barely out of high school but already they have an imprint on Warner Brothers, a keepsake book, a box set, and a button pack. Now, the early-20-somethings have set their sights on cinema. The Maine…

The Maine – Growing Up

Song: The Maine, “Growing Up”Context: In going back to listen to prominent releases from local bands to prepare my “Best Local Records of 2010” list I was struck by how mature this song from The Maine is. Ya know, these guys could really grow into something even Phoenix indie snobs…

Henry Rollins Reveals He Produced an Album For Killer Charles Manson

At a benefit event he recently hosted for Los Angeles radio station KCRW, former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins revealed that he produced an album for serial murderer and cult leader Charles Manson, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Rollins produced a handful of Charles Manson’s acoustic “pop songs” at some…

Afterlife Hosts Tron Legacy Party on Friday

Greetings, programs! Didja know there’s some kind of movie called Tron Legacy hitting theatres this weekend? Yeah, it took us by surprise too, considering there’s been absolutely zero promotion or press about it lately. All jokes aside, the flick that many are expecting to be one of the biggest of…

Alice Cooper Headed to Rock Hall of Fame

Congratulations, Alice, you’re headed to Cleveland.Alice Cooper, the shock rocker raised and residing in Phoenix (Detroit is also trying to claim him today) has been selected for enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on the shores of Lake Erie.Tom Waits, Neil Diamond, Dr. John and…

Foals – Spanish Sahara

Song: Foals, “Spanish Sahara”Context: NME’s top song of the year is, as the Brits say, a load of donkey bollocks. They’re trying to do that LCD Soundsystem thing where a seven-minute song has five minutes of build-up to two minutes of brilliance but they’re not near pulling it off. There…

Tierra del Fuego: Queen of the Rendezvous

Artist: Tierra del Fuego Title: Queen of the Rendezvous Release date: December 11 Label: Scapular Winging Through pure happenstance, I witnessed this local band, Tierra del Fuego, on Saturday night play as they played to a small but appreciative crowd at Trunk Space. It just happened to be the band’s…

Download: Toro Y Moi – “Still Sound”

​While December is a time usually reserved for the hordes of formulaic top ten lists, it is also a time for looking ahead to next year’s most anticipated releases. South Carolina wiz-kid Chaz Bundick — better known as Toro Y Moi — has one of those anticipated releases, his sophomore…

Michael Jackson Penned a Tune For Hanson

At some point in time, Michael Jackson wrote a song for Hanson, according to ShowBiz 411.The song was written for them to play, not in their honor. Jackson never actually gave the song he wrote for Hanson to them. He intended to send it to the 90s boy band but…

Mariah Carey – Oh Santa!

Song: Mariah Carey, “Oh Santa!” Context: Mariah Carey’s 1994 Christmas album is the all-time best, so I’m excited to see she has a new Christmas album out. This is the lead single off Merry Christmas II You. Mariah Carey – Oh Santa by Ju Miguel…

Simian Mobile Disco: Delicacies

Gone are the misguided, commercialized efforts from Temporary Pleasure, instead replaced with nine minute, techno-centric odysseys. There are no vocals on this album, which should be a huge beacon of hope for long-time SMD fans — especially after the flurry of random guest vocals on their last album. Delicacies finds the…