Tonight: Vice Magazine Throws The Desert Bender Party

Let it never be said that there’s never anything rad to do in Phoenix, especially since there’s an overabundance of awesome events going down this evening. Not only are Shane MacGowan and the Pogues visiting Tempe tonight, but the Monsters of Folk Tour will be hitting the Orpheum and Valient…

Is U2 a Supergroup? The Arizona Republic Says So

Maybe it’s just that we’ve run not one but two think pieces on the concept of and criteria for “supergroups” in the last month, but I became physically ill upon seeing the headline over The Arizona Republic’s review of U2’s show in Glendale last night.”Supergroup U2 delivers in Glendale,” it…

Kanye West Not Dead Despite Massive Rumors/Speculation

[jump] Granted, West isn’t exactly most people’s favorite person right now, especially after his little shit-fit at the VMAs this September. Then the news came that his “Fame Kills” Tour with Lady Gaga was no more, due to the fact that West needed to take a break from the limelight –…

U2 in 140 Characters or Less

How was last night’s U2 show at The University of Phoenix Stadium? Well, I slaved over a review here but why take a critic’s word for it when you can consult the twittersphere.And the Twittersphere says…. cdaukas: Traffic is bad. U2 is good. Almost there. So, yeah, that’s pretty much…

Dear and the Headlights Play Red Bull Soundclash

Local indie band Dear and the Headlights has been tapped to play a Red Bull Soundclash show with SoCal Rock/rap/reggae outfit The Dirty Heads on November 4 at Marquee Theatre. You can get a pretty good feel for the event from the above video or read this blurb from the…

365 Days of Sober (And Silent) Amy Winehouse, Former Ghosts, Sexy Video Poll Gone Awry

Electric Mustache: Video: Former Ghosts “Hold On”Idolator: Five Possible Conclusions To Draw From The Photos Previewing Chris Brown’s Forthcoming VideoIdolator: “Sexy Video” Poll Proves Once Again That People On The Internet Are Confused/ConfusingNME: Amy Winehouse ‘drug-free for a year’, says Mitch WinehousePitchfork: Yeah Yeah Yeahs Release iTunes Originals SessionRolling Stone:…

Tonight: Will.i.am DJs At Axis/Radius

If you’re of those cats who’s more into apl.de.ap and Miss Fergalicious than The Edge and Mr. “Save the World,” make plans to be at Axis/Radius in Scottsdale after leaving Westgate, as will.i.am will be headline the official after-party with what’s sure to be a killer DJ set. (Who knows,…

Cardiac Party Is Breaking Up

Cardiac Party is breaking up. Considering the Phoenix electro-pop outfit’s Teen Challenge was one of my favorite local CDs of the year, I’d say this is very unfortunate news, though if there’s any silver lining it’s that the band’s bassist Jason Woodbury may have more time to write the excellent…

New Smashing Pumpkins Will Be Free, Boy George Writes A Song About Amy Winehouse, New Kanye West Film

Idolator: Ticketmaster Brokers A Criminally Vulgar Tie-In With Morrissey’s Upcoming ShowElectric Mustache: Photos: Elliott Brood, Matthew Reveles & Wooden Sky @ The Rhythm Room 10/14/09NME: Billy Corgan to give away new Smashing Pumpkings songs for freeNME: Boy George writes song about Amy WinehousePitchfork: Watch: The Deranged Kanye West/Spike Jonze Short…

DJ Dossier: Sol Martinez

AKA: DJ Sol Martinez Current club night(s): FUSE Friday at Bar Smith is my main night right now. I’m gonna be opening up at Cream Stereo Lounge for Giant Wednesdays starting next week on the 21st. How did you get your start? When I was in high school, I first…

The Surfside IV Wanna Lei You This Weekend

Did you happen to miss out on last weekend’s uproarious Tiki Throwdown at Tempe’s Yucca Tap Room? Still hoping to get lei’d? Then local band The Surfside IV have a deal for you. They’re gonna be involved with this Sunday’s Surf Rock Tiki Luau Party III at the Rhythm Room,…

Wait, You Were Considering NOT Going to Wavves?

Wait, repeat that: Were you considering not going to see Wavves at The Rhythm Room tonight? Really? I’m so sorry… that you’re a total fucking idiot.Admittedly, I’m sort of a Wavves fanboy at this point, having written a column kinda-sorta about the band that quoted one of their songs in…

Lady Gaga Announces New “The Monster Ball” Tour, Screws Over PHX

​Lady Gaga, that lightning rod of weirdness and pop music giant, has announced her new North American tour, appropriately dubbed “The Monster Ball.” It was a month ago when she and professional interrupter/gay fish Kanye West had announced their “Fame Kills” tour, picking Phoenix as their first stop. Well, “Fame”…

Matt and Kim Play Third Thursday Tonight

Yes, The Valley’s ever-fluxing, erm “format modifying,” station FM 103.9, better known as The Edge is still hosting those free Third Thursday concerts that brought acts like MGMT, The Ataris and Alien Ant Farm to the open-air mall Tempe Marketplace. Now a mainstay in Old Town Scottsdale’s Craftsman Court, this…

The Academy Is… Power Pop’s Leading Light

There are few relationships in music quite as strong as the one between power pop and its fan base. Sure, every genre of music has devotees who absorb everything they can, but at some point, the product of most such obsessions ends up in a cardboard box and passed over…

Are Monsters of Folk Really a Supergroup?

Leave it to a folk singer to conjure a folksy-funny name like Monsters of Folk. It’s knowing, it’s smart, it’s self-deprecating — exactly what you’d expect from the four low-key indie-rock luminaries who compose this most retiring of supergroups. But are they really all that? New Times had a sit-down…

The Mumlers, Black Heart Procession Coming To Rhythm Room

It’s a shame we can’t get every concert advance we’d like to in the paper, but it’s nice to have PHXmusic.com for occasions like this: The Black Heart Procession and The Mumlers are coming to Rhythm Room on Tuesday. BHP, the veteran San Diego indie band, just put out their…