Yesterday, while cleaning my apartment (too rare an occurrence, lemme tell you) I listened to a recent broadcast of Henry Rollins’ excellent radio show on KCRW. Rollins is a man of many talents: In addition to his excellent program, he writes for our sister paper, LA Weekly, and he tours…
The Cure is a difficult band to cover. Purists will balk at anyone that can’t sing like Robert Smith, but playing Cure songs with your own style is usually a bad idea (just look at what 311 did to “Love Song”). “There’s no reason to tweak a Cure song. You…
If you’re a member of the trendy dance music scene, chances are likely you’ve seen the name Jen Deveroux before. Most likely on a flier for any of the myriad club events, fashion fetes, and hip parties that she’s helped promote over the past five years or so.In recent months,…
Today is a big day for fans of Las Vegas, punk, and/or bowling. The full lineup for the 14th Annual Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival will come out sometime today. We’re guessing it’s going to happen in the afternoon since three-day passes go on sale today at 1 p.m…
Mallory Kregle Kregle is one of the FOX Sports Arizona Girls. Check them out on Facebook here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Usually 104.7 KISS-FM. Other than that, I usually have my iPod plugged in. There’s…
There must be something here in Arizona that makes our young folks sad and exaggerated, morphing from shy young kids to angular haircut sporting emo rock ‘n’ rollers. We’ve got some high profile acts to call our own: Blessthefall, Eyes Set to Kill, The Maine, and countless others. Is it…
Within seconds of watching this video, it’s obvious that Boys and Frogs is not performing “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” Instead, they play a fuzzy version of Kanye West’s “All Of The Lights,” which transitions into The Smiths classic. “I’m a fan of Kanye and The Smiths…
This week, New Times ran a list 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. Want to listen to (almost) all of our 100 Songs that Defined Arizona? Why is Megadeth…
Our new issue is on stands now (look for that big, tabloid-y looking cover), but you can catch up on all our stories online now. Our main feature showcases Boys and Frogs, a visually minded indie-pop band whose videos have quickly earned them internet attention. Christina Caldwell explains that the…
There’s no quicker way to alienate listeners than to be so pretentious as to describe a band as an “experience,” “lifestyle,” or “state of mind.” Still, despite the groans the following statement may elicit, there’s no way to get around it: Boys and Frogs is more than a band; it’s…
Although he operates in a genre of music that tends toward innovative extremes — either lionizing the traditions of the past or rejecting them outright — Buck 65 is a particularly forward-thinking MC and turntablist. He’s always been willing to play with convention and weave a healthy amount of folk,…
Despite the quick rise of his punk outfit Cloud Nothings through the blogosphere and the warm critical reception of the band’s latest record, Attack on Memory, 20-year-old singer-songwriter Dylan Baldi remains calm. The big, black all-ages Xs drawn on his hands surely negate any ego-tripping. “Some cities on the West…
Hope those thinking caps aren’t too snug: Phoenix New Times’ Big Brain Awards are back. The annual awards designed to recognize innovative artists in the fields of design, visual art, fashion, performing art, and culinary art, and give each $500 for their creative endeavors…
It’s hard to find music videos on TV these days. Sure, one could argue that the internet has ushered in a new era of DIY or underground video creativity, but it’s hard not to miss the days when you could waste hours watching clips on MTV or VH1. If musical…
Hanging out at Bar Smith on a Friday isn’t just another night out on the town. It’s pure adventure, especially when trying to navigate the crowd on either floor during the phenomenally popular Sticky Fingers weekly.It’s doubly difficult if you’ve had a few, as some of the drinkologists at Bar…
In 2010, our New Times operations manager and Up on the Sun contributor Jay Bennett wrote a column about listening to only new music called Nothing Not New. For a whole year. Some time has passed, but not the lesson that column taught me. There’s nothing wrong with favorites, but…
We’re pretty excited about Hooves’ homecoming gig in March, and listening to “Animal Mother,” our exclusive sneak peek at the band’s upcoming Fetch, Little Doggie LP, justifies the commotion. A live staple at the band’s shows for some time, the recorded version offers a certain clarity that isn’t always present…
Heads up to all the dry cleaners in town — psych-pop choral band The Polyphonic Spree is coming to town, and they’ll be bringing loads and loads of “the whites” with them. Good luck fitting the whole crew on the stage of the Crescent Ballroom. Seeing how they cram everyone…
We let you know about the first five bands on the Punk Rock Bowling lineup, and we’re pleased to announce a bunch more. There’s Sham 69 with its 1977 Jimmy Pursey/Dave Parsons/Dave Tregunna lineup. Hot Water Music returns — just not Chuck Ragan and/or The Draft, but Hot Water Music…
Beau MacMillanFood Network star MacMillan is the executive chef of elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? ESPN Sports Radio.What’s the first album you bought? Led Zeppelin, the fourth untitled studio…
This week, New Times ran a list 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. What inspired Pickster One, Z-Trip, and LL Cool J’s “Super Baller”? What five singers should team…
You expect the typical rock ‘n’ roll drama when a band takes to the studio to tackle its sophomore album: band fights, creative control struggles, and gigantic egos. But it wasn’t any of that stuff that caused the four year gap between Source Victoria’s The Fast Escape and their airtight…
