Concerts 

Wasn’t Going Out

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…

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Concerts 

Yard Decorations Go Great On a Stage

Nights 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…

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Concerts 

Sugar, Spice, and a Dash of Punk

What 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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Concerts 

Far From Half Baked

Tonight was a favorite pair of local bands. Both times I have seen Dent, it was with Twin Ponies. They are a great compliment to each other. Tonight I could boost that to say that all three bands, including Baked, were awesome together. They made for a fantastic night of music at the Rebel Lounge. Up first were the awesome guys of Dent. This was my first time seeing them without the projector of fun imagery. They didn’t need it, bringing a good rock and alternative blend to the stage.…

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Concerts 

It Isn’t All Painting and Fences

Last night was one of those where I could have been in six places at once. I put catching the EP release show for Painting Fences atop my list. With it came some of the best stage lighting I’ve seen at Pho Cao and two bands new to me. It included a couple extra guests during the Painting Fences set too. It was a blast to be at. If seeing Zero Degrees North for my third Saturday in a row does not show how high in regard I hold them,…

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Concerts 

A Snapshot of the Indie 500

The Indie 500 is a special event. The first one took place on the Trunk Space’s tenth anniversary, and, if memory serves correct, a joint celebration of a new air conditioning unit that was public funded. However, that isn’t what makes it special. It is that it brings together a bunch of different musicians and genres that I don’t always get to make it to. Plus you can jump in and out of it, like I did last year, and catch a bunch of music at any time of the…

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Concerts 

What is a Genre?

I have had two discussions on what real Emo music is, and both times have been at Rebel Lounge this year. They have also occurred when I was catching a band or musician in a band that is Emo appropriately. While appropriate to describe Owen, and Mike Kinsella, I will stick to my guns that our two openers are not in that category. However, all of the music tonight was great. It kicked off with Celebration Guns, who I so far have lived up to my word to see more…

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Concerts 

A Return to the Trunk Space

There are some people in the Phoenix music scene that have had amazing impacts on it. One of those people is Ryan Avery, who I think in the mind of most people, he is a person that it is hard not to associate the Trunk Space with. He was one of the hardest working performers for the past couple Indie 500 events, performing in multiple bands of his creation. So when Ryan said he and his wife were moving to L.A. about a year ago, it was a blow to…

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Concerts 

Theatrics and Fun Times Ahead

I’m of two minds of set times being posted. First, and probably more unique to myself and a few others, having set times posted can help me figure out on busy nights like tonight a plan of attack to hit the music I want to see. However, I’m on the other mind where I’ve been at a show early with an amazing local band, and no one is there. This happens more often than I like to see, and if there is only a start time you get a couple…

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Concerts 

Blind Surprises

I spoke of never going to a show blind just a couple days ago, meanwhile, tonight I did it. With a invite from my friend Danielle and only watching a link to a Demon in Me song, I went in to see what great offerings there were to be found at 51 West. What started and ended acoustic, turned into a great mix of alternative and acoustic sounds ending on Demon In Me. Up first was a gentleman who goes under the name Midway Heights. While he mentioned that his…

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