It has begun. That exhilarating rush that comes from an intoxicating combination of financial aid refunds co-mingled with the mild apprehension that everything you learned last semester has somehow leaked out of your head. Between the many road trips and nights spent partying into the wee hours of the morning, synapses might have gotten rusty. Even if you’ve spent most of the summer with the Netflix home webpage fixed in front of those ever attentive eyes, the fact remains that school has arrived, whether our brains are ready to be receptive to new information or not.
Regardless of the state ASU students might find themselves in, the most important question (for the purpose of this blog at least, ahem Live & Otherwise): Where have your ears been? It’s been a summer filled with catchy indie pop ala Matt & Kim, a spattering of Fun with Panic at The Disco (sans two members), multiple DJ madness (with the likes of Skrillex, The Glitch Mob, even the Electric Daisy Carnival situated in Vegas), finally ending the summer with some rousing indie rabble among the likes of The Decemberists and Australia’s Cut Copy. Throw in some Katy Perry and a bit of Lupe Fiasco and the results prove that the East Valley had most of its bases covered this past summer, or at least its musical genres. This fall will prove no exception. With the opening of a new venue (The Crescent Ballroom), to the beefed up concert listings of old favorites, fall 2011 is going to prove itself as a concert season of contenders. Here are some upcoming highlights to look forward to:
8/19 Art Vs. Science @ Bar Smith, $10 adv./$12 day of
8/24 Lil Wayne (with Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement) @ Ashley Furniture Homestore Pavilion, $55
8/27 Atmosphere @ Mesa Amphitheatre, $28
8/30 Patrick Stump @ Martini Ranch, $20 adv.
9/01 Deadmau5 @ Phoenix Convention Center, $50
9/01 Mister Heavenly @ Rhythm Room, $12 adv./$13 day of
9/05 Japandroids @ Trunk Space, $12
9/06 Cold War Kids @ Marquee Theater, $18
9/08 Bassnectar @ Marquee Theater, $31 adv.
9/13 Foster The People/Cults @ Venue Of Scottsdale, SOLD OUT
9/15 Bon Iver/ Fleet Foxes/ The Walkmen @ Comerica Theater, $39
9/23 Mickey Avalon @ Martini Ranch, $20 adv.
9/27 Murs @ The Clubhouse, $13 adv./$15 day of
9/30 Braids/Pepper Rabbit @ The Sail Inn, $9 adv./$10 day
9/30 Fall Frenzy w/ Matt & Kim, Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182, $55 adv./$60 day
So as the whimsy of summer begins to wither and die within you, at least there will be plenty of good music coming your way to give it a stellar soundtrack… Or a desperately needed distraction.
