Coheed and Cambria: Year of the Black Rainbow

Artist: Coheed and CambriaTitle: Year of the Black RainbowRelease date: April 13Label: ColumbiaYesterday, I wrote about the over-the-top self-titled record by Queen acolytes Foxy Shazam. I gave it a D. But I may have to go back and adjust the grade to something better because, in the end, despite its…

Where Do Arctic Monkeys Fit Into Britain’s Many Regional Scenes?

For geography-impaired Americans, being able to differentiate between this British city and that British borough is always a dicey proposition — especially if one of them isn’t London. I mean, there’s just so much de-industrialization everywhere. And curry shops. Makes it hard to know your Leeds from your Leicester. The…

Why Hipsters Can’t Bring Themselves to Love The Eagles

It’s not a bad time to be a hipster who loves “yacht rock,” or album-oriented rock, or whatever term you want to use to describe the kind of breezy soft rock that rules the airwaves of classic-rock stations and mellow VH1 Classic programming aimed at adults (read: old folks). Everyone…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 4/15 Issue

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. When will Mesa’s Nile Theatre re-open? What do Martin Cizmar and Steve Chilton think of the…

Foxy Shazam: Foxy Shazam

Artist: Foxy ShazamTitle: Foxy ShazamRelease date: April 13Label: SireAttention, fans of Glee and American Idol and Fame and Broadway and Queen. Your prayers have been answered by Sire Records, who has delivered unto you a band from Cincinnati that will blow you away. The band is called Foxy Shazam, and…

Vampire Weekend Brings the Love to Marquee Theatre

Sounds like things got pretty crazy at the Vampire Weekend concert last night at Marquee Theatre. Someone threw up, and girls and guys alike lusted after the band–although it seems like the crowd was filled with underaged peeps. Here’s what was happening on the interwebs after the show. @yourreddress vampire…

MGMT: Congratulations

Artist: MGMTTitle: CongratulationsRelease date: April 13Label: ColumbiaI guess the kids are kinda disappointed in the new record by MGMT. Apparently, they expected another dose of harmless and forgettable electro-pop, like they got a couple of years ago with the band’s debut, Oracular Spectacular, and the singles “Kids” and “Electric Feels.”I…

Nothing Not New: Podcast #3

You wanted the best, you got the best with another Nothing Not New podcast. This time, New Times web editor/Japanese music aficionado Jonathan McNamara and photography intern/Coachella attendee Ryan “The Wolf” Wolf joined me in our studios to compile 10 more songs from some of the better music I’ve listened…

No Need for a Baby-Sitter — Drop the Kids Off to Owl City

It seems like, after Selena Gomez, the Owl City concert may have brought some of the youngest fans Marquee Theatre has ever seen to the venue. The tween-friendly artist’s non-offensive lyrics and sugary sweet melodies sold out the spot, bringing both kids and their parents to the show–which, judging from…

Chester Bennington Among Crowd at Muse Concert

Common folk weren’t the only peeps to check out Muse and Silversun Pickups last night at US Airways Center. Apparently a famous face, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, was also in the audience checking out the show. To offset the fact the band doesn’t alter their set list, they tried…

Murder by Death: Good Morning, Magpie

Artist: Murder by DeathTitle: Good Morning, MagpieRelease date: April 6Label: VagrantWhat would you expect a band called Murder by Death to sound like? I figured these guys were gonna be among the new breed of “punk” bands in which one dude sort of croons while another screams his lungs out…

The Shizz Set to Launch Record Label

Over the past decade, TheShizz has gradually grown into one of the most popular local music websites in the Valley. This month, The Shizz is launching its own record label, starting with a 17-track compilation of songs from Arizona bands called The Shizz Presents: AM or PM? I Don’t Know…The…