Just Announced: Toby Keith, George Thorogood, Blondie, Yes

This week’s show announcements have a little of everything, including two of the finest purveyors of good ol’ boy drinking music you’ll find: George Thorogood and the Destroyers are set to play Celebrity at the end of July, Toby Keith comes to town in August. Surprisingly, even considering the desparity…

Wye Oak at Stinkweeds Tonight

According to our man Murph’s blog So Much Silence, Baltimore indie-folk act Wye Oak is coming to Stinkweeds tonight.The show starts at 7 p.m. and costs $5. So Much Silence has a downloadable track and more info on the band…

Lots of Wilco News From Electric Mustache

Our friends over at Electric Mustache have been following Wilco news like the old No Depression zine circa 1997. They’ve got news about the name of Wilco’s new album — turns out it’s Wilco (the album) — and a free downloadable track, called “Jolly Banker.” They’ve also got a full…

Flier of the Week: Back Ted N-Ted

Not only does Back Ted N-Ted have a kickass poster for this First Friday show at The Lost Leaf, the band also has new music up on their MySpace. “Loose Control” sounds a little like the stuff Ryan Breen produced for Medic Droid, formerly of Modern Art Records, while “Parks…

Neutral Milk Hotel Needs Your Help

Yes, Neutral Milk Hotel, the Louisiana-bred indie act that’s been broken up for a decade, has dispatched an e-mail asking for help. And, since I’m something of an Elephant 6 fan boy, I immediately made a mental pledge to assist in any way I could.Turns out I’ll be voting to…

Creed Reunites, Plans to Rock Glendale

In what has to be the biggest music news since the band formed in 1995, Creed has reunited. All four members are back at it, including lead singer/public drunkard Scott Stapp, since they parted ways in 2004. But wait, the good news doesn’t stop there, Valley rock fans. That’s right,…

You Do Not Hate Dave Matthews Band

As a card-carrying Dave Matthews hater, you should know something about yourself: You don’t really hate Dave Matthews. Oh, you beg to differ, but it’s true. One cannot genuinely loathe the mellow South African and his eponymous, Grammy-winning light-rock foursome, The Dave Matthews Band, any more than one can genuinely…

Rapper Greydon Square Is an Atheist Icon

A Trekkie from Compton. An Iraqi war veteran who majored in physics. An intellectual alt-rapper who idolizes Canibus but beat down his former manager over money. Without a doubt, Greydon Square is as contradictory and complex a figure as you’ll find making music in Phoenix. Not that most people know…

Brian “Head” Welch Embarks on First Solo Tour

Former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch, who moved to Phoenix after his conversion to Christianity, is going back on the road in support of his debut album, Save Me From Myself. The heavily-tattooed former member of one of nu-metal’s biggest bands released his new record, which clawed it’s way to…

Austin City Limits Jumps on Festival Bandwagon, Announces Lineup

The lineup for the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival has been announced and it is teeming with top-notch talent. The Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band round out the top slots of Outside Lands Lollapalooza this year’s edition of the ACL, adding Kings of Leon, Theivery Corporation…

Just Announced: Third Eye Blind, Aerosmith, Erykah Badu

Did you know that Third Eye Blind is still around? Yeah, me either, but the “Semi-Charmed Life” guys (they were crystal meth before crystal meth was cool!) are still a band and still touring, apparently at venues as large as the Marquee. Go figure. What other bands you used to…

Dylan Brings Minor League Ballpark Tour To Glendale

Bob Dylan, ever the people’s musician, has announced he will take on a summer tour of America’s prestigious minor league baseball stadiums to Glendale’s brand new Camelback Ranch Ballpark on August 11. He has also employed the services of über-American musicians John Cougar Mellenamp and Willie Nelson. At this point…

Wolverine Tickets: Get In Line Now

So you didn’t get your tickets to the world premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, huh? Good news, bub: You can get in line with everyone else at Harkins Theater at Tempe Marketplace right now and hope you’re one of the first 500 to get tickets when they hand them out…

Britney Spears: Top 5 Things We’d Rather Spend $150 On

We’re not covering Britney Spears tonight.  Yes, we know she’s been number one on Billboard’s Top 200 4 times. Yes, we know she’s a pop sensation that sells out arenas all over the world, but here’s the rub: press access for Ms. Spears’ concert tonight is $150. Press access. According…

Goodbye, Dan Gibson

It was with great sadness that I read about our friend Dan Gibson retiring from Idolator this afternoon. Now, sure, as a local guy, Dan’s been one of our harshest critics (fer realz) but it was always nice to know he was out there, calling us out and keeping us…

Fun Mp3 from Mesa GarageBand Producers: “Arizona Ways”

So this is a good find we got from the guys in Kinch, over Twitter: R.INC’s “Arizona Ways.”I kinda dig the geekcore beat and the lyrics, which include, in part:”Listen loud and clear to these words I’m bout to say, I’m gonna educate you bitches on these Arizona ways. You…