By now you’ve probably formed an opinion about Django Unchained, the controversial new Quentin Tarantino film starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, and Leonardo DiCaprio. But don’t let that stop you from diving into Karina Longworth’s excellent Phoenix New Times cover story this week, which features the writer/director…
Gospel Claws, Put Your Sunshine Away (Common Wall Media/President Gator Records): The men of Gospel Claws had a rough time in 2011 and 2012. Songwriter Joel Marquard fought (and beat) testicular cancer, and the band tragically lost guitarist Mark Erickson. But there’s no mourning on their second LP, Put Your…
As I type this, it’s still 2012, but by the time we hit “publish,” it’ll be 2013. So I’ll turn to the great poet Kanye West to sum it all up: “I’m livin’ in the future so the presence is my past. My presence is the present, kiss my ass.”…
Once a week Up on the Sun features a new comic strip from punk rocker, cartoonist, and full-time dad Brad Dwyer. See the New Times print edition to check out the strip in glorious, inky newsprint each Thursday…
Is it possible to have a New Years Resolution for a whole city? Not sure, but I have one. One for Phoenicians one and all, myself included. So here goes: Let’s take some musical risks, Phoenix. Let’s look for opportunities to try new things. No sticking to known quantities. We…
Happy New Year loyal punk fans. If you really tied one on and you’re nursing your hangover by chugging some Pedialyte, punk music may be the last thing you want to listen to. But 2012 was a great year for punk releases, which made this list difficult to narrow down…
Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to help you stop…
Editor’s Note: With a tip of the cap to the man, we bid Maynard James Keenan adieu. This is MJK’s final column for Up on the Sun, as he’s devoting 2013 to more music and more wine. You won’t have to wait too long to hear some of the fruits…
One of the best turntablists in Arizona, if not the entire southwest, announced today that he’s hanging up his headphones for good and bidding farewell to the DJ world. Logan Howard, known to many by his moniker DJ Element, dropped a bombshell on the local music scene within the last…
It’s been a mighty big year for hip-hop music in Arizona, most notably with the explosion of the locally-produced platinum hit “Mercy” by Kanye West. Producer and New F-Os member Lifted helped direct ears towards our corner of the map for his work on the massively popular track, but he…
The year 2012 brought an array of exciting moments in heavy metal, from album releases by veteran acts like Napalm Death and younger bands like Goatwhore, to some of the biggest ever heavy metal festivals, to a few of my personal favorite interviews with metal legends. Enjoy — and happy…
Friends and family of Matt “Fundy” Funderburk, bassist of Lydia, Bears of Manitou, Joey Arroyo Band, and other musical groups, are still coming to terms with his passing. The musician’s Facebook wall is still full of endearing messages. Two memorial services for Matt Funderburk have been announced: the first is…
By day, Suzy Homewrecker is the supervisor of a local laboratory that studies pathology and immunohistochemistry. At night or on the weekends, however, the 30-year-old crimson-haired vixen becomes a tough-as-nails roller derby queen, a gothy go-go dancer, or industrial music DJ known as Defense.Mekanizm. It all depends on her particular…
Alexus Poulette Poulette plays Aldonza in the musical, Man of La Mancha, performed by the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company tonight, December 28, through Sunday, December 30. For tickets, go here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? The…
Each week in our print editions and every day on our blogs, the 13 Voice Media Group papers feature some of the best music writing in the country. That’s why we’re excited to announce the winners of our first VMG music writing awards. The honor goes to the authors of…
The local music community has lost a valued member. Matt “Fundy” Funderburk was known for his talents in a number of local bands including Lydia, Bears of Manitou, and Joey Arroyo Band, but most of all, he’s remembered as a good friend. Bears of Manitou’s Facebook page refers to him…
As 2012 draws to a close, we couldn’t be more optimistic about the state of music in the Valley of the Sun. With new bands emerging from various scenes and subgenres, it can be hard to keep up with the latest in Phoenix music. What follows are our picks for…
Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to help you stop…
Once a week Up on the Sun features a new comic strip from punk rocker, cartoonist, and full-time dad Brad Dwyer. See the New Times print edition to check out the strip in glorious, inky newsprint each Thursday…
Ladies and gentleman, here are our 10 picks for our favorite Phoenix albums of 2012. Enjoy! See also: -13 Phoenix Bands You Need to Hear in 2013 -Jason P. Woodbury’s 10 Best Things I Heard in 2012 -Top 10 Reissues and Compilations of 2012 -Top Five 2012 Heavy Releases In…
Is this year over yet? Well, close enough. So in honor of 2012 we’ve dug through the past 12 months of stories looking for the greatest hits. Below you’ll find the stories (minus most of the newsy stuff) that people clicked on each month. And if thousands of other people…
So long, 2012. You were a weird, uncomfortable, and scary year. You were also wonderful, at times so unbearably wonderful that I thought my brain was going to explode as I struggled to wrap my head around your pure, blindingly bright joy. You had all the things a monumental year…
