Adam Carolla Appears on KWSS 106.7 Friday

KWSS 106.7, “Arizona’s Alternative Radio,” hosts Adam Carolla this Friday. The former Man Show co-host, Crank Yanker and Loveliner will chat with Morning Infidelity host Beef Vegan before his run of weekend dates at Tempe Improv.Check out a podcast from last time Carolla was on TMI here — including a…

Arcade Fire, “Ready To Start”

Song: Arcade Fire, “Ready To Start”Context: As Michael Lopez mentioned earlier, you may or may not have heard that Arcade Fire has a new record out today. Ready to Start by Arcade Fire…

Bob Hoag Wants to Appear on Mad Men: You Can Help

Local uber-producer Bob Hoag is owed a lot of favors in this town. The Atari-turned-knob-twister-turned-Love Me Nots Drummer has had half the bands in town come through his well-regarded Flying Blanket Studio in Mesa (even if the Black Cactus guys want no part of it) and routinely gets out-of-towners through.What,…

Arcade Fire: The Suburbs

​Oh, a new Arcade Fire album is being released today? I had no idea — aside from the fact that most everyone has been looking forward to The Suburbs, the band’s third album, ever since they first finished listening to their previous album Neon Bible.It’s hard for the Montreal rockers…

Wavves: King of the Beach

Artist: WavvesTitle: King of the BeachRelease date: August 3Label: Fat PossumRemember Wavves? They (well, it was more or less one guy, Nathan Williams, and whoever would back him) were huge in Indieland last summer, the ultimate buzz band of 2009. Then they played some high-profile festivals, totally sucked at those…

Incoming: Jónsi, Best Coast, Surfer Blood, k-os, Caribou, The Tubes

Here’s a fun fact about seminal 80’s band The Tubes — their origins are in Phoenix. Tubes’ founders Bill “Sputnick” Spooner and late keyboardist Vince Welnick were born and raised in Phoenix, playing in early high school bands before packing up shop, moving to San Francisco in the late 60’s…

Adam Lambert Brings the Glam to Marquee Theatre Stage

Marquee Theatre had one of the most interesting crowds it has probably seen in awhile when Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta came to town last night. The sold-out audience was a mix of glitter-covered cougars, teenage girls and gay men, and the eyeliner was out in full force. After the…

Turn Back, O Man! “French Wife”

Song: Turn Back, O Man! “French Wife”Context: Is this band breaking up or not? “New project in the works” + hype = ??? Either way, this is a fun story song. French Wife by turnbackoman…

Michael Jackson Record Due Out in November

How could someone who’s been dead for over a year release a new record? The simple answer would likely be that the people who have control over any remaining recorded material are hungry for the money that accompanies anything involving Michael Jackson’s name.Rolling Stone reports that the King of Pop…

Lady Gaga, “Starstruck”

Song: Lady Gaga, “Starstruck”Context: When Lady Gaga updated her Facebook status to say she was hanging out in the Arizona desert. 37,291people (and counting!) “liked” it. The fame, indeed. Lady Gaga – Starstruck…

Lady Gaga, Metalcore, Bar Bands, and More in This Week’s Issue

This week’s music feature is on Lady Gaga’s seemingly overnight rise to super-stardom. Ever wonder exactly how or why this happened? Nearly everyone agrees she’s awesome. But is she really? We get to the nitty gritty.We also take a took at the subtle differences in the metalcore genre through the…

What Happens When New Times Reviews Bar Bands?

Fact: Phoenix has a lot more gigging local bands than anyone realizes. Even you, Mr. Hipster Who Really Cares About the Local Scene. I don’t care who you think you are — you’ve never heard of half the local bands playing out in a given week. Thing is, a lot…

Lady Gaga Isn’t So Much a Phenomenon as a Prophecy Fulfilled

America responded with a collective “Well, of course!” when Lady Gaga formally announced herself in 2008. Overnight success is a myth, but then again, Gaga’s first two singles, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face,” both hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, she’s worn red latex to meet…

The Goodnight Loving: Supper Club

​Artist: The Goodnight LovingTitle: Supper ClubRelease date: July 20Label: DirtnapSo, this Milwaukee band was supposed to play in Tempe on Saturday night. I’d seen on the Goner Records message board earlier this summer that they were touring the West and needed a Phoenix gig, so I set them up at…