Music

We are dehydrated, sunburned and covered in a fine layer of Queen Creek dust – which water can’t seem to wash off – but we’re back from Edgefest 2008.

By Michael Lopez Making my way back to the SRP Stage to catch some of Atmosphere’s set, I couldn’t help but think of the dichotomy presented by this year’s Edgefest lineup. One set earlier, the SRP Stage saw Kottonmouth Kings electrify the crowd and stupefy me. Atmosphere gracefully took the…

By Joe Golfen With the threat of rain subsided and the snow melted into the matted grass, the stage was set for the high profile end of the Edgefest. Adam Corrola, the new morning jock at the Edge, made his was onto the stage with his usually casualness. But for…

By Michael Lopez After about 40 minutes of no music on either stage – partly due to technical difficulties on both stages – Kottonmouth Kings and Rise Against filled the night’s air with some much-needed music. Rise Against had to suspend their set due to the difficulties, but were good…

By Martin Cizmar So that guy from Dirty Scottsdale who is apparently out there blogging (though we haven’t seen him, really) isn’t the only one who can make fun of people who put themselves in compromising situations. Witness this video of a hefty gentleman in a speedo captured by our…

by Yvonne Zusel At about 5:45, gypsy punk rockers Gogol Bordello do a sound check, and I’m pretty sure it was the first–and will be the last–time I ever hear such a rousing round of applause for a dude with an accordion. Frontman Eugene Hutz has a mustache that makes…

By Martin Cizmar So we’re battoning down the hatches as it’s looking like rain out here… Not sure what we’ll be able to do blog-wise if the skies open up, but stay tuned. There’s a live weather camera at http://schnepffarms.com so look there to see what’s up…

Don’t get me wrong. I love music. When I woke up this morning (read: rolled out of bed and grasped toward the coffee machine) I could not wait to see Gogol Bordello.

By Benjamin Leatherman As I type this, a spacey and visibly intoxicated lass named Dorothy just wandered into our tent and started firing off questions about what we’re doing. After we informed her of our liveblogging activities, she inquired: “Can you blog about me?” Since we aim to please, here’s…

NOFX is providing me with some music as I write. The lead singer’s candor with the crowd in between songs is actually quite funny. I just laughed at his quick jab towards an over-zealous audience member holding a NOFX poster, as if the band forgot that they were, in fact, NOFX.

by Yvonne Zusel Eugene Hutz & Co. sat backstage signing Edgefest fliers, backs of hands and Blockbuster membership cards, seemingly subdued for, well, them. Maybe the Phoenix sun was getting to them; Hutz took his shirt off and put it on his head for some shade, showing off his pastiness,…

by Yvonne Zusel Punk stalwarts NOFX brought their distinctive brand of punk to Edgefest, picking up a sluggish midday crowd that was ready for some reliable, know-what-you’re-gonna-get tunes. Check out this slideshow from NOFX’s set:…

By Benjamin Leatherman I’ve tried to conjure up some kind of sentence to describe this photo, but words utterly escape me. I’m not certain if these, uh…exhibitionists are advertising some new condom or just showing off what the good lord gave ’em. The only thing I am certain of is…

When a man in a loose button-up shirt and a cowboy hat first walked on stage, my first though was “whose that old guy?” But as soon as he hit the first reverb-soaked note, there was no question that the Reverend Horton Heat had arrived.

Let me preface this by saying I am currently listening to Pennywise entertain the sun-drenched crowd with an amazingly profane set, as if they get paid an extra $50,000 for saying “fuck” over 200 times. They just ended a cover of a Minor Threat song by shouting “Pennywise,” just so the fans don’t forget who is playing.

By Yvonne Zusel Chicago punk vets Alkaline Trio rocked the house on the AZ State Fair Stage with their themes of love, depression, alcoholism and fire. Check out this slideshow from Alkaline Trio’s set:…

We were all anxious to see the insane sideshow that is Gogol Bordello, but they’ve been moved back to six tonight. But Thrice bumped up their set and proceeded to blare a raucous, energetic set of emo-rockers. The four piece outfit trashed around stage, hammering out pounding tunes and shouted vocals that left them breathless after every song.

By Jonathan McNamara Videographer Eric Jacobs lent his talents to bring you this video from early in the day at Edgefest 2008. Check out shots of Mickey Avalon, Authority Zero and more of the action from earlier in the day. Circle pits, water slides and crazy outfits are just part…

By Jonathan McNamara Call them activists or just your run of the mill rap-based band from Colorado, but The Flobots kicked serious ass all over the SRP stage at Edgefest 2008. Check out this slideshow from The Flobot’s set:…

By Benjamin Leatherman So I’ve been walking around Edgefest for the last hour or so and I keep seeing people with the phrase “Fuck You We’re From Phoenix” spray painted in stencil form on their bodies or tee shirts. Turns out it’s a shtick for local rock band Vistalance, who…

Providing the fans with a much-needed changeup, Airborne Toxic Event descended on the SRP Stage to play their unique brand of alt rock. Featuring a female violin player at Edgefest is a bold move, but the band was able to pull it off quite smoothly. Those few fans that took the set in – an unfortunately low number – were treated to a smooth and effortless set.

By Michael Lopez Amidst the bizarre early morning/mid afternoon scene here at Schnepf Farms, Authority Zero descended upon the SRP “second” stage to rile up the fans that braved the amazingly long lines to get in. Starting at 12:15, the band ripped into their set, quickly prompting the crowd to…