April 2019

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The Long Goodbye and Bittersweet End to The Rogue Bar

by Mitchell Hillman

It’s been just over a year since I’ve written about music in this town.

I’ve been laying low working on perfecting recipes of health and happiness, while churning out a slew of paintings and tending to my own self care. So it had to be something truly special to apply my pen to poetic musings of the vibrant goings on of the Phoenix music scene. This past Saturday was an emotional and boisterous explosion of saying farewell to a venue that was a staple for local bands over the last twelve years, The Rogue Bar. Having been in the thick of it for most of those years, it was the truly special event that made my heart swell, my soul soar and present a time tunnel of memories and friends that sparked a fire in my mind…

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KWSS is Gearing Up for their Second Annual Plus One Show

by Allyson Bills

Spring in Phoenix means catching some rays before the onslaught of 120 degree weather, as well as an abundance of shows throughout the Valley. Adding to the spring fun, local non-profit station KWSS is hosting their second annual “KWSS Radio Spring Fundraiser Plus One Show” on May 3 at Last Exit Live starting at 6 PM…

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The Tastemaker’s Ten: Jim Waters

Jim Waters, for those not in the know, is the man behind Waterworks Recording in Tucson. And it seems like Jim has recorded just about everyone, from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Calexico to Jim Gaffigan and Mitch Hedberg. Jim even worked with Sonic Youth in the 90s before relocating his NYC recording space to the sunny Sonoran. Don’t get me started on his local roster which includes too many stellar Tucson acts to possibly name them all, but Brian Lopez, Lenguas Largas, Whispering Wires, Billy Sedlmayr, and much more have all recorded at Waterworks and the list just goes on…

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2000 Foot Turtle, Spectrum Hues, Lo Temps, + Olympic Games Make for an Unforgettable Night of RocknRoll

by Logan Lowrey-Rasmussen

On Friday, April 12, I pushed my body closer to its limits as I decided to cover two shows in a row. With just 24-hours preceding my review of Sunday At Noon with Almost Awake, Arlington, and HeadStrum, I realized this was a show I would have to compromise my mental health for. Not only was 2000 Foot Turtle scheduled, a personal favorite of mine, but the mysterious Spectrum Hues I hadn’t seen since my early days in photography last year dictated the final decision of my attendance. Aside from fresh punx 2KFT, groovy jam-band Spectrum Hues, and “modern psychedelia” LoTemps, this would also mark the very first performance of local self-described indie punk “ear candy,” Olympic Games — what a low-key clever name to spot on a flyer…

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Matthew Reveles/Fancy Cloud: ‘Split’ [album review + interview]

by Mark Anderson

Matthew Reveles and Fancy Cloud are back with their new, 2019 album, Split.

Released through Phoenix’s President Gator Records, this is the latest proper album from Reveles/Cloud since 2013’s New Year, New Jacket (also released through President Gator) and the first release for the label this year. Plus, after keeping us barely satiated over the years with singles released through his Soundcloud, it’s great to have an actual full length from Reveles again — something not seen since a decade ago with his stellar We’ll Meet Halfway album…

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Sunday at Noon “Bring The Thunder” with Almost Awake, Arlington, + Headstrum at The Rebel Lounge

Since I reviewed Sunday At Noon’s Beat Up & Bitter album, I’ve been trying my damnedest to explore even a fraction of the Phoenix rock community outside my average drag, indie, and punk circuit. I always seem to fall victim to my taste-related loops, but on Thursday, April 11, The Rebel Lounge introduced me to a fresh community of hard-working artists and dedicated concentrations of fans supporting the alt-rock they love. Presented by Atlas Artist Group, Sunday At Noon kicked off their “Bring the Thunder” joint-tour with Vegas-based Almost Awake, Arlington from Southern California, and Queen Creek hometown heroes, HeadStrum (in place of All New Hopes)…

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Radio Phoenix Broadcast | It’s Not Our Fault: “Ruined Songs”

Tom and Amy of ‘It’s Not Our Fault’ rolled into the Radio Phoenix studios and aired this show of songs that were ruined by someone in their life. Most of these songs aren’t even that bad, it’s just because of situation and circumstance they’ve become ruined forever. And, since we know you want to know, the complete playlist of these Ruined Songs can be found below…

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