This was a Saturday that I had consigned to staying in. It was the beginning of a more stressful period at my day job, and I always have pictures to catch up on. I posted it to Facebook to try to hold myself to it. Alas, it seems that music calls to me despite all the attempts to stay in. Music brings me to a place I enjoy being. So, I went over to Last Exit Live to catch a mix of bands I mostly didn’t know. Opening up was…
Read MoreNights of discovering new music are fun. They can be brought on because I already know a band on the bill. They can be by happenstance that I decided to go check out a new show. However, tonight it was a combination of factors including the man, Matt, who was putting on the show. I met him at the last Good Ol’ Joel performance, and conveniently they were on this show too. Between Matt being a great salesman to get my interest peaked and Good Ol’ Joel, they had me…
Read MoreIf there wasn’t a genre I did not catch enough of during the pre-Independence Day celebrations, it was Ska. Thanks to the actual Fourth of July, that was remedied. It had one of my favorite voices to hear sing in the Steady 45s and a regular staple of our local Ska scene, Bowcat. Plus Leigh, of Krovak, jumped on for some punk and folk acoustic songs to open up. To say I had a blast, would be an understatement. First, if you have never caught a Krovak show, you should.…
Read MoreOne of the merits since the Trunk Space started the Indie 500 was catching new bands. You can show up for a known band, but stick around until your eyes won’t stay open. In that time you see a large mixture of genre. You see bands you never knew the name of that stick in your memory as you leave. Good Ol’ Joel is one of those bands I first saw at the 2016 Indie 500. One thing that stuck with me was their guitarist made a skateboard into his…
Read MoreThe second half my Independence Day traditions for a few years running is the one packaged with Broloaf. They do their annual Independence Day Meltdown every year, usually the Saturday before or on July Fourth. For one, if you have seen a Broloaf show then you know they bring the boom. For two, you get a package with great bands joining them for the celebration. This night was opened up with an old familiar, Skull Drug. It was their usually high energy, fast paced set. Though this year with a…
Read MoreThe Fourth of July bring out your usual patriotism and fireworks. For me, and a lot in the Phoenix punk scene, it brings other fantastic traditions and get-togethers. The annual Pre-Independence Day Barbeque is one of those amazing events. This is put on by Bo, of the Industry, and his wife Marcia, of Bowcat, alongside a bunch of their punk musicians and friends. I started attending them about three years ago. I have had a blast and made new friends at every one of them. This year mine kicked off…
Read MoreIt was a night that brought together friends from everywhere. Our usual scene of friends joined by those we love when they come to town. For me there was new music and friends to meet with Year of the Fist too. This midweek show was one of the reasons I wish I didn’t have work the next day. This night at the Yucca Tap Room was five bands of significant energy, character and fantastic music. The guys of Creepsville 666, who are becoming a regular attraction on this site, opened…
Read MoreThere are some bands that you are guaranteed to see some amazing music every tour they have. Streetlight Manifesto is just one of those bands. You could say they are bedfellows with some legends of Ska and talented solo acts. Over the years they have introduced me to acts like Sycamore Smith and Dan Potthast’s solo work. Their own music puts them atop the upper echelon of my favorite bands. Without worry, a tour with Ogikubo Station, Jenny Owen Youngs, and Streetlight Manifesto was going to be a blast. …
Read MoreAfter a full day of Warped Tour, would you go on to do two days of two shows? Some people may say no. For me, the answer is a yes. This may be how I earned the nickname that spawned this site. Although with it being a Saturday, I got a full night’s rest. I would start over at the Marquee Theatre and end my music adventure between three spaces in the Yucca Tap Room center. Up first was the big reason I was at the Marquee, to watch the…
Read MoreWhat do you do after spending about ten hours out at a Warped Tour in Phoenix? If you’re me, you take the day off to rest and go out to music the next night. Plus given Harper and the Moths are taking time off to put toward a new album, the Real Fits show was on the top of my radar. The night opened on a fantastic touring band, then flowed into great local acts across two air-conditioned venues. That touring act would be Beachwood Coyotes from L.A. These awesome…
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