The Nine Best Metal Shows in Metro Phoenix in April 2016

When it rains, it pours—and that’s exactly what you can expect from the metal gods this April in Phoenix! It’s springtime, guys, and we’re in that teeny tiny window of gorgeous weather before triple digits start to slap us across the face.  The Valley of the Sun is packed with…

The Eight Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend

There’s a helluva lot of live music happening around the Valley this weeked — and that ain’t no April Fools joke. There’s a free gig by The Struts over at Tempe Marketplace tonight, the multitude of performances during First Friday, and the Phoenix Lights electronic dance music free-for-all up at…

New Music from decker., Mimelight, Zodiac Bash and More

Mitchell Hillman listens to more local music than just about anyone in the Valley. He presents his picks for best local music in column, Right Hear, Right Now. decker. – “Cellars (W.A.S.H. Remix)” At first listen to the music of decker., it’s difficult to imagine any of their songs being…

The von Trapps Continue Their Famous Family’s Musical Legacy

It’s not uncommon in the world of popular music for the progeny of legendary performers to try and make a name of their own. The late Natalie Cole, the late Frank Sinatra Jr., and Jason Bonham are a few successful, contemporary examples. For sibling singers Sofia, Melanie, Amanda, and August…

Punk Rock: The Interview

Like most well-known, middle-aged personalities, Punk Rock, known by friends as simply Punk, is a little coy about disclosing its true age. For the most part, though, Punk’s fans and critics tend to agree it was born in 1976, making this year its 40th birthday. We thought it would be…

Celebration Guns’ Celebratory Side Shines on New Vinyl Release

Oddly enough, Celebration Guns has run into some confusion about their name. It comes from a Stars song off their album Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, but when the Phoenix quartet played Michael Feldman’s travelling radio show Whad’Ya Know?, a few members of the aging, liberal crowd raised an eyebrow: “Celebrating…

Hrishikesh Hirway Breaks Down His Podcast, Song Exploder

Hrishikesh Hirway is a one-man band — literally. For his chart-topping podcast, Sound Exploder, where he pulls apart songs with the musicians who wrote them, Hirway is like a scientist putting sonic emotion under a microscope. He interviews artists like U2, Björk, and Spoon and breaks down their song construction. He pulls apart each musical…

The Nine Best Concerts in Phoenix This Week

In case your teenaged kids haven’t already excitedly informed you, Justin Bieber is headed to the Valley later this week. Like it or not, the 22-year-old hitmaker is hitting Gila River Arena in Glendale on Wednesday with his “Purpose” tour in support of the blockbuster album of the same name…

Tempe Neighborhood’s “Vanishing Show II” Shut Down by Police

The Vanishing Show in Tempe’s Maple-Ash-Farmer-Wilson neighborhood is a novel response to Tempe’s strict noise ordinances. The event, which had its second annual show Saturday night, acts as a moving house party with bands playing no longer than 20 or 30 minute sets. The idea is that by the time police…

Lineup Changes Can’t Slow Down The Hourglass Cats

The last time The Hourglass Cats (THC) dropped an EP Jan Brewer was still governor, KONGOS wasn’t platinum yet, Black Carl was still together, and Sheriff Joe. . .was still sheriff. But that’s neither here nor there. It has been since June of 2012 since THC has release a collection…

The 10 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend

Game to go a show this weekend? You’ve certainly got no shortage of options available as the concert calendar in overloaded with big gigs by major names taking place around Phoenix. That includes performances by rock and country legends (David Crosby, Vince Gill), burgeoning hip-hop stars (Migos), and phenomenally gifted…