Most of the year the amount of ska shows is not too concentrated. It usually lends to me making sure to support every ska show in hopes it will bring more. However, we had a strange week in July. There was a stretch of four ska shows in a five day span around Phoenix. That third show was the fun as hell bringing The Holophonics into town joined by Bowcat, Rundown Roommates, and Los Lerpes. Kicking things off first was a three piece Los Lerpes. Down a man, we saw…
Read MoreTours revolving around the anniversary of an album are one of the current trends. It is likely because a lot of the bands these days that we follow and love are sticking together longer. One of those bands just happens to be Streetlight Manifesto, who is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the album “Everything Goes Numb.” Along for the ride on this tour were, Kitty Kat Fan Club and Mephiskapheles. Up first is one of the newest bands on Asian Man Records, Kitty Kat Fan Club. The streak of great…
Read MoreThere is a special feeling to watching bands in a smaller venue. That special feeling grows larger when it ends up a band that has been performing punk rock for the last three decades. In this case, it was my second time capturing that feeling of watching TSOL at the Yucca Tap Room. This night they were accompanied by two spotlights of the Phoenix punk bands, Heavy Breather and the Venomous Pinks. Opening up is a band I haven’t had a chance to tell you about on this site, Heavy…
Read MoreAs the last national Warped Tour goes on, it continues a last run at introducing music fans to bands they may never have crossed paths with. In this same vein, at Warped Tour 2011, I was introduced to an entirely new genre to me from a band that just killed it in 110 degrees. That genre was Bluegrass and that band was Larry and His Flask. I’ve supported their album fundraising since and made it a goal to catch them anytime they are in Phoenix. Of course, that meant their…
Read MoreI’ve attended open mics time to time over the years. They bring out great and growing musicians. There were a few I became a regular for a while, including the one that gave me my first nickname of “Homemade Shaker Joe.” This was a night that my friend Jaime, of 1967, returned to Phoenix to visit and perform. I was going to relax after his little set, but a surprise showed itself later into the night. First, let us talk Jaime and 1967. He was once a resident of Phoenix…
Read MoreEveryone has an opinion. You don’t have to agree with them, but you can listen to their take on it. It is a common discussion that comes up about two piece bands. There are people out there that aren’t fans. They aren’t open to the idea two members can make great music. However, over the past three years I’ve seen a couple now that I feel make the convincing argument for the amazingness that is a two piece band. In this smaller show, we had the two piece of Mobina…
Read MoreBirthday shows tend to be a more common occurrence as I meet more within our music scene. They bring out the friends and musicians. Some I don’t get the pleasure to see as often as I would like. In the case of tonight, I got to catch someone who I have missed play for a while, someone I had not seen before, and a bunch of regular bands I love to see live. Opening up the night was the birthday girl herself, Cecilia. Playing with her friend on guitar, the…
Read MoreIf you told me there would be a tour with Reverend Horton Heat, Fishbone, and Strung Out on it, I would have given you an askew response. I think highly of all three bands, but together on one stage I wouldn’t imagine. However, it makes complete sense after a little thought. There are a bunch of crossover fans from the three genres of punk, ska, and rockabilly. With that, we got fantastic performances plus a great surprise in the opening Los Kung Fu Monkeys. Entering the show I had a…
Read MorePersonality is the word I would use to describe the night. This will be repeated throughout below. Personality is the most common trait of every band that played the First or Last album release. A unique acoustic set from Rundown to the hard rockers of Alex Squared. Opening up was Rundown Roommates in a more unplugged form. Elliot and Tyler sat adorned stools on the Yucca stage. They both had acoustic instruments, guitar and bass. Like their full band sets they kept the charm you find in a regular set.…
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…
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