Mostly Bears to Play October 15 at Yucca Tap Room

​ How much you enjoy Tucson’s Mostly Bears depends on how high your tolerance for shirtless press photos, warbling falsetto vocals and anthemic indie-prog is. If the idea of Muse barn-storming with The Mars Volta sounds like something you could get down to, by all means, catch the band when…

David’s Lyre – Heartbeats

​Song: David’s Lyre, “Heartbeats”Context: This artist’s name, combined with the opening of this song, made me sincerely worry we had a male Joanna Newsom on our hands. Whatever your feelings on Ms. Newsom (mine? “Over-Rated! clap, clap, clapclapclap”) you can probably agree the last thing on earth we need is…

Miniature Tigers Do Daytrotter

​Brooklyn-livin’ Phoenix-leavin’ indie-pop band Miniature Tigers have done a second Daytrotter session.The Chicago-based Quad Cities-based taste-making website writes: “Miniature Tigers are one of the best examples America has of a young band working a something new, something old and something borrowed mentality with its songwriting. With each album they make…

Belle and Sebastian: Write About Love

Artist: Belle and SebastianTitle: Write About LoveRelease date: October 12Label: MatadorSometimes, after a hard day spent arguing with co-workers about which records people who write about music should be exposed to, you just want something breezy, something feel-good. Enter the new record by longtime indie darlings Belle and Sebastian. Write About…

Die Antwoord Has Five Albums Already Planned

South African hip-hop group Die Antwoord has five albums up its sleeve that are ready to go, according to Consequence of Sound.The first album in their line of releases is $O$, which they named “because if we didn’t make it with this album we were gonna be f*cked,” Ninja said.The…

Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz

As always, with such a creative leap forward, Adz is not without its controversy. But an album like Adz is what keeps both critics and the public on their toes, forcing them to shift their mindset to adjust to Stevens’ new work.What the rest of the critics are saying:…

The Old 97’s: The Grand Theatre, Volume One

Artist: The Old 97’sTitle: The Grand Theatre, Volume OneRelease date: October 12Label: New WestThe Old 97’s hold a special place in my heart. Back in 1998, they very nearly singlehandedly shook me out of post-breakup depression. After a couple of months of moping, I drove to Chicago from my home…

E-40 – The Server

Song: E-40, “The Server”Context: E-40 will be at Marquee Theatre tonight with Tech N9ne. This is the first single off E’s new album Revenue Retrievin’: Night Shift…

Jack Johnson Plays Under the Stars at Cricket Wireless Pavilion

@tekakwitha​Jack Johnson may be one of the most mellow artists around, but his show at Cricket Wireless Pavilion last night got people on their feet for a full 2-hour-long performance. He even hooked a lucky couple up with a concert marriage proposal–that’s sure to be a great memory. Here is…

Cee-Lo Gives a Big ‘F*ck You’ to the Music Industry

It turns out that Cee-Lo Green’s song “F*ck You” isn’t about a girl at all, but rather about the music industry, according to NME.”I was in a place where subconsciously, my ‘f*ck you’ was aimed at the industry itself,” Cee-Lo told NME. “You have to be kind, you have to…

Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest

Artist: DeerhunterTitle: Halcyon DigestRelease date: September 28Label: 4ADLove this record. Totally unfamiliar with the band’s previous output but was under the impression they were a confrontational, noisy, quasi-experimental outfit. Turns out, Deerhunter are pure pop. Granted, it’s art-damaged pop, but it sounds fantastic. Like a thousand other bands you’ve heard…

Phantogram – Turn It Off

​Song: Phantogram, “Turn It Off” Context: Electronica duo Phantogram performs at Rips Ales & Cocktails (note, Stateside Presents says that’s a “*NEW VENUE*”) tonight. Phantogram – Turn It Off by TNastee…

Kanye West: Still the Busiest Mofo in America

Kanye West has been in music news nearly every day for the past week. You’d think this guy was taking over the world or something.’Ye has been releasing a new track every week on his Twitter (@kanyewest) and has named the weekly occasion G.O.O.D. Fridays. Collaborations have included Chris Brown,…

Toni Braxton Up to Her Eyes in Unbelievable Debt

R&B singer Toni Braxton has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy again, according to TMZ. She owes between $10 million and $50 million.The companies to which she is indebted include Tiffany & Co., AT&T, The Four Seasons Hotels, and Neiman Marcus. Maybe diamonds aren’t a girl’s best friend after all.On top…

The Walkmen: Lisbon

Artist: The WalkmenTitle: LisbonRelease date: September 14Label: Fat PossumIt hit me about halfway through my first listen of the new album by The Walkmen: The singer sounds a lot like Billy Squier. You know who I’m talking about, right? He sang “The Stroke” and “Everybody Wants You” and danced around…

Dodge Theatre is Now Called Comerica Theatre

​Phoenix’s biggest theater has a new name.Live Nation, the concert promoter who owns the building at 400 West Washington Street formerly known as Dodge Theatre, issued a press release today saying we are henceforth to refer to the 5,000 seat venue as Comerica Theatre.In keeping with longstanding Phoenix tradition “Theatre”…