Live and Otherwise: Cover Me Crazy
In a world filled with creative musical stylings that produce new tunes (good or bad) every year, the arena of the cover song could seem unnecessary. But in the capable hands of a talented artist there is
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In a world filled with creative musical stylings that produce new tunes (good or bad) every year, the arena of the cover song could seem unnecessary. But in the capable hands of a talented artist there is
The term “independent radio” usually has the same resounding air surrounding it that fighters have to a resistance. They are free from the constraints and confines of larger radio networks and often have the creativity to create an innovative experience for the listener. They focus more on local businesses and ventures that will particularly resonate with its local supporters. For years, the station that most defined this particular set of ideals for me was The Edge 103.9. Then, of course, change happened, life went on, new owners emerged, and the station that was once the highlight of many a car trip was a distant memory. The most recent changeover for the station involved a complete makeover focused on the redesign of its music genre structure, a dramatic shift from alternative to classic rock. Understandably, this ignited the aggression of many listeners.
The standard, unassuming font used for the sign display at one of downtown’s trendiest outings greets every visitor who chooses to grace its doorstep (and dance floor). Nestled between clubs PHX and Skylounge, Bar Smith brings its own eclectic touch to the downtown Washington Street strip. Having chosen this past Friday’s Sticky Fingers show featuring DJ Comic Strips as the headliner (along with resident DJs/local favorites William Fucking Reed and Prince $$) to make my inaugural visit to the hipster’s paradise, the night went along rather swimmingly.
It’s finally that time of year again -- let the concert studded madness begin. With Coachella’s line-up having already been announced (and its tickets already a tragic memory), shows are popping up on every concert venue in the Valley’s radar. Artists are beginning to plot their arduous journeys across the desert and into that mystical Indio, Calif., golf course of dreams… or something less dramatic. The season of concerts and large amounts of ticket-buying has finally commenced.
As STRFKR took the stage, the first thing that immediately took my attention was the way the stage lights refracted light of the band member’s sparkly dresses. In fact, three of the members were clad in such auspicious garb. And they were all skinny, tiny-framed men. This sight pretty much dictated the course of last Tuesday’s STRFKR show at the Crescent Ballroom.
It’s always amazing when there are concert designed around a discount price. My extreme lack of funds increases my disposition towards cheaper shows and even free events have a special place in my heart. So this week, thanks to the kind folks at The X 103.9, they are putting on a series of No Snow Holiday Shows Dec. 6-10. They even went so far to put aside a decent number of tickets for the humble prices ranging from $10.39 to $20. Very affordable considering some of the names on the bill: The Airborne Toxic Event, The Kooks, Cake, Blue October, and Company of Thieves. I am glad to be going to two of the aforementioned shows (Kooks and The Airborne Toxic Event), and invite the rest of you to do so. It’s a perfect way to wind down after those taxing finals or pump yourself up for the test torture that’s yet to come. More information for each individual show can be found here.
The holidays are a splendid concoction of family time and good cheer mixed with a bit of exhaustion and thousands of tasks to get done before the big day in question. The best accompaniment to this holiday extravaganza is often the resonant Christmas music that seems to blare from the nearest speakers. Of course, while the traditional singers and song writers from the old days of yore hold their own merit, there is always a general appreciation for modern takes on classic songs or even the creativity of a new classic. After a few hours scouring the internet (and my brain), there remains only confidence that these songs will add to your holiday spirit.
Working out. Most of us strive to perfect a routine or, in my case, try and figure out what daily routine could be classified as such so I don’t have to participate in extraneous activity. With either preference (the former or the latter) there is always a need for a great playlist to enact movement to. So in my search to determine what exactly a playlist of exercise champions is made of, I stumbled across some great enterprises that do the work for you. In any great workout mix there has to be an underlying determination that will push you to excel at the chosen workout. These lists are just that, and most are able to fit any mood that might have grasp of you.
Ahhhhhh, the sweet aroma of turkey roasting in the oven, mingled with the scent of sweet candied yams piping hot and ready for consumption. Thanksgiving is always the lovely (and filling) middle point between Halloween and winter festivities. Eating delicious food is always a plus and so are the humbling thoughts of what you truly give thanks for this year, which mixed between the family and friends, is another treasure: good music. Here’s a Thanksgiving playlist that’s sure to not disappoint as you slave in the kitchen or do the opposite: lounge on the couch and watch the parade.
Positive reinforcement. We all crave it and we all hope to attain it. With national tidbits covering the many outraged musicians opinion on the SB 1070 immigration bill, it seemed like it was the only music-related topic major magazines and internet entities were interested in. There was scarce mention of the many local artists who work hard every week to put on great shows for their fellow Phoenicians. Other things (granted, they were important issue), were overshadowing this great quality of music. But the terrific music scene the Valley has to offer was not a ready concern of the major media consumption.
There always seems to be show or two occurring somewhat in the vicinity of your house. When you are aching for something to do or to motivate you to get out on the town, live music is always a safe bet. But what happens if the only bands playing that night aren’t that spectacular or perhaps they drudge up unwanted memories of a person or embarrassing debauchery? Never fear! There are alternatives to a less than ideal concert experience. Phoenix is filled with nightly musically focused activities to amuse its city patrons. And the best part is the increased probability of finding such events near your inner sanctum. From Rockaroke to being a Rockstar DJ for 20 minutes, the alternatives will at least give you a great story to recount the following day.
What does it take to put on a great show? That is always the million dollar question racking many a brain. There are so many different components that fit together in that coherent and concise way great shows are made of. So who are these magicians working their magical folly of artists and venue collaborations? They are the concert promoters! Luckily, Arizona has a diverse network of independent concert promoters that work hard every year to secure that your favorite bands get their official Arizona exposure. Not only bands you recognize, but in many cases that great band that you’ve never heard of but were lucky enough to get dragged off to their show. While this is simply a small snapshot of the promotion community in Arizona, these three companies are definitely among the best:
There has been a fair share of sold-out show buzz kill antics this year. There was The Black Keys in April (ahhh what could have been, and minutes from my house at the Mesa Amphitheater), there was Indio’s Coachella (my mouse pointer was literally on the confirm purchase button and I decided to wait- the next day. Poof! All the tickets were gone). Now tragedy has struck once again. French tinged musicians M83 are playing at the Crescent Ballroom tonight. And unless good fortune smiles upon me, I will not be one of those lucky, wholly precious souls in attendance. This is killing me. Again.
For most an optical illusion confounds and confuses, twisting itself into an object that the mind’s eye can barely recognize and define. When New York’s Phantogram takes the stage this Saturday night, the same experience will likely occur within the auditory canal. The ambient pop duo will bring their own electronic spin to the Crescent Ballroom and no doubt fans are ready for their indie pop reawakening to begin. Having been popular in the indie scene for quite some time now, their eclectic sounds have produced a recently released EP entitled “Nightlife.” With so much hype surrounding the band, you would think that would nullify their ability to keep a crowd enraptured and mesmerized by their music. The dreamy ambivalence in their music is more like a stream of consciousness that seems to permeate into where the emotional core is. With their influences of hip hop, house progressive, trance, and of course indie rock, it’s no surprise that Valley residents are likely stoked for their Phantogram front row experience.
The guitar is simply spellbinding. Sometimes, the mark of a good musician lies in the fact that if they were put on stage with just a voice and a six string, their message would be as striking as when produced in a sound studio. At least that’s how I categorize some artists within the alternative genre, to quantify whether they are truly talented at their craft. Some acoustic versions are like visiting a completely different planet; one that you didn’t even know could be crafted by the music playing through the speakers. As the soothing acoustic sounds wash over you, that feeling of serenity renews you to go about your day, or at least leave you with a happy feeling within your musical bosom. Here are some great acoustic tracks that I hope brighten your day, or at least take you away from the daily grind for a few precious moments:
I remember when I went through this phase back in junior high in which I thought screamo was the best invention ever. Luckily, style wise, it only influenced me to wear a large amount of eyeliner smudged around my eyes (none of that emo/scene kid nonsense). But throughout that pivotal eighth grade year, that tantalizing scream co-mingled with a harmonious vocalist was my nightly music jam session. One of these bands I listened to religiously? Why From First to Last of course. And who was my crush du jour? For reasons unknown to me, I was whole-heartedly obsessed with the angriest little man: lead singer Sonny Moore. I would obsessively Google his name for pictures, news etc., all the things young teenage girls dreams are made of. This continued until finally I grew up a bit the next year and realized I wanted more through the sweet sound of music than loud angry vocals and menacing guitars. Ninth grade was a much happier year. Ahem, alas let me continue. So years later, as I sat down on the couch in my foyer, I sifted through some random music magazine and lo and behold, I saw the name of some up-and-coming DJ on the dubstep scene: Skrillex. As I half-heartedly read the small blurb about him I nearly dropped the magazine. “REAL NAME SONNY MOORE” leapt from the page. What???? My junior high crush was a dubstep DJ now????? I quickly Googled it, and verified it as truth. A long way for an artist to come, indeed (he’s now even moved from casual side note to cover gracing)!
One of the scariest music videos that I have ever seen wasn’t in itself supposed to be a scary/creepy song. It was a song about discovering yourself and being proud to be you. There was no real problem with Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” and I even like the rest of the video’s imagery and the message behind it. But the beginning freaks me the hell out! I hate the whole Gaga Mitosis bit occurring (as a bio major I feel I can speak highly on these matters) and the fact that it lasts for just long enough to make you uncomfortable. Sheeesh! Scarred me for weeks! But alas, though my quirks allow me to define this as one truly terrifying matter, I decided to have a much more conventional list of the best Halloween-esque videos out there.
Who doesn’t appreciate the smooth and rhythmic disposition of an old school R&B jam? There are not many who would be able to withstand its seductive musical cues that either gets you in “the mood” or simply in the mood to dance. I treated this past Tuesday as one long upbeat jamming session of the old school variety. Montreal’s Chromeo performed Tuesday evening at the Marquee Theater, along with French Dj Breakbot, and Detroit’s lovely Mayer Hawthorne. They brought with their performance a hearty helping of funk, rhythm and blues.
Fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year. With gorgeous cool breezes that seem to whip through the city, and the strong urge to wrap a scarf around your collarbone to guard against the chill, the beautiful melancholy of fall is a bittersweet tune to the many busy follies of daily life. Though Arizona might not be aesthetically traditional in its fall disposition, the mild temperatures that usually grace our fair state (it’s been uncharacteristically warm recently) are a beautiful thing to behold as our nightly adventures unfold before us. So what would add a pleasing harmony to such an invigorating and enticing change of the seasons? A soundtrack with a bittersweet feel that will complement the many new horizons of the fall semester, the plentiful new experiences still left to discover amidst midterms and social engagements.
Lights, music, and a waterslide — sounds ridiculously simple doesn’t it? And with a portion of proceeds going to the Big Brother Big Sister of Central Arizona, there’s that whole giving back feel good aftershock as a side bonus. This week’s water park soiree, Insomniac’s and Steve Levine Entertainment's Soundwave, is primed to be a fantastic excuse to rave the night away and hear some serious House/Progressive DJ’s do what they do best. Hopefully primed to become a prized AZ semi-annual event, this falls latest installation will be another knotch to add to Insomniac’s belt. Considering that the last Soundwave in April got some pretty bad weather, I’m sure most concert-goers are hoping for a less interrupted dance infested evening. The fall line-up hitting town Friday night, includes heavy names such as Kaskade, Z-trip, and more local favorites like William Reed and 2TONEDISCO.
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