Barring the long-predicted apocalypse slamming down in Phoenix and ruining all our fun, one of the indie world’s favorite bands is coming back to Phoenix and Tucson for what’s sure to be another stellar set of gigs. Stateside announced earlier today that the band will touch down at Club Congress on March 18th and at Rhythm Room on March 19th. The overwhelming amount of hype that the band has received since before they even released a record shows zero sign of showing down, so I’d recommend you get your tickets far in advance to avoid missing these shows. I’ll be celebrating my birthday at the Phoenix one, so feel free to buy me a shot of Jameson, o’ faithful readers.



MP3: Cults – Most Wanted

Now that school is back in session, it’s time for the party season to kick into high gear in downtown Tucson. Luckily the fine folks at Opti Clubbin and Bang Bang have the perfect night lined up for all the co-eds to try to grind all over each other at. The party promoters are teaming up to bring LA’s Them Jeans to Club Congress for a free party on September 3rd. That’s right, as long as you’re 21 and don’t smell like you haven’t showered in a month, you’re getting into this party totally free. This doesn’t give you liability to be a cheap bastard of course. Tip your bartenders! Phoenix kids, don’t be shy. The party is happening on a Saturday night and would definitely be worth a drive down.



MP3: The Xx – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)

November is a month that’s stacked with awesome shows in Phoenix and Tucson, with quite a few hip hop shows amongst them. Obviously everyone is geeking out over the OFWGKTA show happening at Marquee on November 8th, but I’m hoping you’re not sleeping on a tour coming through each of the aforementioned towns just a few days after. Universatile Music is bringing The Blue Slide Park Tour to the Celebrity Theatre on November 11th and to Rialto Theatre on November 12th. The tour is being headlined by one of hip hop’s fastest rising stars, Mac Miller, and features the talented openers Pac Div and Casey Veggies. If you love hip hop, and don’t mind the thick smell of marijuana smoke filling a venue, get your tickets to this tour immediately!



MP3: Casey Veggies – 30,000
MP3: Pac Div – Take Me High
MP3: Mac Miller – Nikes On My Feet

Cults was one of last year’s biggest buzz bands, but don’t let that stop you from catching them live! This band managed to live up to the incredible hype they were afforded, all before even having a release under their belt. Their set during Fun Fun Fun Fest last year was one of my personal favorites. The sun was slowly setting and it felt like there was a bit of magic in the air. I had already found myself enjoying their recorded output at that time, but was permanently won over after catching that performance. Luckily, I just got word that the band will be making their second trip to Club Congress. The show is schedule for July 30th and will be an 18+ show. No word on openers yet, so more info soon!



Cults – Abducted by cultscultscults

I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been totally lazy and unmotivated since I got back from Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin last Monday. In fact, I’ve been sitting on a whole bunch of photos from contributor Tyler Nevitt and he probably hates me for it right about now. Sorry about that one Tyler! Luckily for you though, I’m posting all of the backlog of photos right now. For those of you that don’t know Tyler, he is a local photographer-extraordinaire and also runs the blog Street Ape. He has been an infrequent contributor to this site, but expect to be seeing a lot more of his work here in the future. Here’s some photos from Bear In Heaven and Lower Dens playing at probably my favorite venue in the state last Thursday night. I’m sad I missed this one, but stoked Tyler grabbed photos.

The citizens of Tucson are doing their best to make sure that us Phoenicians spend the entire Halloween weekend down South, and I must say they’re doing a damn good job at it. I was already decided that I’d be spending Halloween night at the Rialto seeing Of Montreal play, but a whole weekend spent at Hotel Congress seems pretty likely after the news I heard today. That’s right.. there’s a huge party happening the Friday night before Halloween, and with a 30 Rock inspired name to boot! Werewolf Bar Mitzvah is also going down at The Rialto and I’ve heard they’re planning such a massive event, that a second outdoor stage had to be added. There’s also some incredible talent performing.

If you thought the organizers were just going to book some local acts and call it a day, well you majorly fucked up on that one.The promoters just announced that they booked two of the bigger names in electronic music right now, Bart Bmore and Designer Drugs, to make sure you have a bloody good time. Don’t even pretend like you’re going to be able to walk straight after this one, much less drive back to Phoenix. Book a hotel and play it safe kids! Stay the whole weekend and get ready for Of Montreal’s show on Sunday night. Also, keep an eye out as there will be many more acts announced very shortly.

MP3: Bart Bmore – Make Some Noise
MP3: Hail Social – Heaven (Designer Drugs Remix)

Brazil may not have won the World Cup that they were so favored to bring home, but they still have the champions of funky electro in The Twelves. This duo has taken the world of club music by storm and managed to record one of the best Essential Mixes I’ve ever heard, which is really saying something. So how fucking lucky is Tucson to get to experience these guys work their magic live? That’s exactly what’s going to happen on July 29th when they visit Optimist Club, which takes place Thursday nights at Club Congress. The party gets started early at 8pm and it’s 21+ as always. Check out a few of their stellar remixes below and a promo video put together for this rare event.

MP3: Radiohead – Reckoner (The Twelves Remix)
MP3: Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)

Anyone familiar with Austin, Texas knows that music is the number one export from the city. You also probably know that Spoon is likely their biggest and best known gift to the world at large. I’m in love with this band in ways I can’t even describe. Seeing this band play live has felt like a religious experience to me each time I’ve been lucky enough to catch them. Well, here’s where things get a little sticky for me and probably for a few of you as well. If you read the post below, you can tell I’m obviously a bit giddy about Ted Leo playing in Phoenix on October 4th. Well, that same night down South in Tucson, Spoon will be taking the stage at The Rialto, which is definitely my favorite venue to see a show in this state. Either way, you really can’t lose, unless you miss both!

MP3: Spoon – Written In Reverse

This New York trio has a new album called “Disconnect From Desire” being released on July 12th. They’ll be touring in support of the album, alongside Active Child, and making an appearance at Plush in Tucson on October 5th.

MP3: School Of Seven Bells – Babelonia