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For professional observers like myself, nothing quite beats witnessing a good brawl. That's why I'm issuing a call for y'all to encourage my ornithological cohort, Stephen Lemons of Feathered Bastard fame and infamy, to join in the festivities tonight at the party for AZPunk.com's 5th birthday at BANNED in Tempe at the Stray Cat.

If you're not familiar with the antipathy betwixt Senor Lemons and the denizens of AZPunk.com, you can relive the brawl here, here, and here. Much of it centers around the varying and vitriolic viewpoints AZPunkers have of former New Times cover girl Katie Rose (I stayed out of it; Katie's an old friend and a neighborhood homey that I often see at the liquor store). Nonetheless, the shit talking got down and dirty, and really I'd like to see it come to blows (not really, but a little shouting would be dope). So if you, like myself, would like to see Mr. Lemons in the flesh flapping his beak at the AZPunk.com kids, just leave a comment here, and I'll make sure he sees them.

Almost forgot, Chris and Micah, 2/3 of the founding fathers of AZPunk.com, will be on the decks, along with resident DJ Johnny Volume. And there's no cover. Happy birthday guys.

Drummer Joey Kamka from local metal purveyors Autumn's End was hit on his motorcycle on Saturday, January 27 by a drunk driver, according to reports I'm getting. This is what the band is reporting:

On January 27, 2007 at 3:00am Autumn's End's drummer, Joe Kamka was hit by a drunk driver while on his motorcycle. Joey is in the fight for his life. The
driver slammed his truck into the back of Joey which sent him flying into the windshield of the truck and then over it severing his brain stem, right ear and fracturing his skull. The doctors told us that he wouldn't survive and that if he did he'd be paralyzed from the neck down. Within 12 hours of the accident and after hours of surgery Joey lay hooked up to a respirator and barely concise he started to move his hands and feet. The doctors were speechless and unable to explain how he was doing this. Joey is as tuff as they come. He is a machine. We know that he will pull through this and be back at his drum kit braking cymbals and snapping sticks like nothing had
happened. I ask all of you for you prayers and support. Please stop by the Autumn's End page and give a Horns Up for Joey.
Please contact our manager Andrew Cox at www.myspace.com/desertcoreaz with any questions.

www.myspace.com/autumnsend

Today's update from the band said this:
Well I wanted to take a moment to say a little something about the last 36 hours. Joey is still fighting for his life every moment but fortunately he is the toughest ass I know and I have been by his side every minute I could. He is not out of the woods by any means but I wanted to personally get on line to say the response and support from all over the world has been nothing less than astonishing! We never realized the Autumn's End family was so enormous and powerful. We love every one of you bad ass metal friends and I know it is a rough road but we will all be here for decades to come to give the world AZ metal. Thanks to everyone of you Joey, his immedate family and all of our families are completely blown away by all of you!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a miraculous recovery, as I'm sure the rest of you are.

I just received news that Feedback Video Magazine, which I wrote about here last year, is having to end its run on KAZ-TV (channel 13 on Cox Cable or channel 27 in the atmosphere). Apparently the guys at 3B studios lost some sponsors at the last minute and the contract for the third season was cancelled. The show will continue on the internet though, you can hook up all the new episodes via the show's myspace.

Still, it's a shame that the show isn't on the real tube; FVM covered a grip of dope bands, with live performances and interviews, from the hardcore, punk, metal, and emo scenes. As Darin "SpyderDog" Roberge told me when the show was launching, ""Basically, Feedback Video Magazine is directed at a Hot Topic version of what underground music is -- death metal, hardcore, emo, screamo, punk rock, etc. We've got the girls' pants, white belts, peacock hair bullshit handled. We're gonna cover everybody's musical tastes."

The new season on the internet launches on February 9th, and some of the upcoming artists are Jedi Mind Tricks, Strike Anywhere, Reverend Horton Heat, Darkest Hour, Comeback Kid, and For the Record. For a list of bands the show's featured on its 86 segments, click here.

Roberge says that relations with KAZ-TV are still good, and that the people there have been cool about everything, even offering to discuss a return to the air at some point. Hope springs eternal, I definitely hope the show gets its issues ironed out. There's nothing else like it here. See for yourself, here's a couple of segments, one from local metal machines Job for a Cowboy, and one from hardcore legends Sick of it All.

I received news this morning from my music editor, Niki D'Andrea, that legendary blues drummer Chico Chism passed away yesterday. You can read Niki's farewell column here, a sweet tribute to one of Phoenix's true musical institutions. This is what she sent about his passing...

"I'm the house rocker and the show stopper, the woman's pet and the man's threat. I'm Chico, the Boogie Man." -- Chico Chism

Legendary blues drummer Napoleon "Chico" Chism, Phoenix's longtime "Ambassador to the Blues," died on Sunday, January 28, at the Kivel Campus for Compassion in Phoenix, following a four-month battle with kidney disease. Chism was 79 years-old.

Chism was born on May 23, 1927, on a riverboat near Shreveport, Louisiana. His career began in 1957, when he recorded with T.V. Slim on the original version of "Flat Foot Sam." Over the next fifty years, Chism recorded or toured with countless blues and rock legends, including Big Joe Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf, Henry Gray, and Louisiana Red. Chism relocated to Phoenix from Chicago in 1991, where he became a fixture of the Rhythm Room, the local blues club owned by Chism's close friend, Bob Corritore. Chism spent the past 16 years nurturing the Phoenix blues scene, drawing legendary players to perform here and serving as a mentor for the city's up-and-coming blues players. "Phoenix will never be the same without our blues cheerleader," Corritore said. "We have all been profoundly touched by this beautiful person."

The "Chico Chism Appreciation Night" show scheduled to take place at the Rhythm Room on Tuesday, January 30, will now be a memorial service. Performers include The Flamekeepers, Big Pete Pearson, Lynne Avril, Bob Corritore, Nightshift featuring The Chief and Tom Grills, George Bowman, Walkin' Cane Mark, Mike Howard, Matt Row, Hans Olson, Blues Dinosaurs, Johnny Rapp, and more. There will also be a religious service led by Father Ron Poston. Proceeds will help pay for Chism's funeral costs. There will also be a "Memorial Benefit for Chico Chism" featuring The Flamekeepers at El Dorado Bar & Grill in Scottsdale on Saturday, February 3.

I've followed the horror-punk trio Calabrese for quite a while now (as you can see here in a June 2004 column I wrote), and I'm always pretty stoked when they drop a new record. The three brothers, Jimmy, Bobby, and Davey (that's in order of their ages) bust out Misfits/Damned-style punk rock about zombies, vampires, demons and that sort of B-movie fare, with meticulous style and panache.

Now we're on the verge of hearing Calabrese's most recent release, The Traveling Vampire Show. The release party isn't until Friday, February 9, at the Phix, but because they're going all out for the release party I wanted to give you some time to prepare your costumes; that's right, the C-brothers are auditioning for an upcoming music video and they want you to star alongside them in it.

Here's what Jimmy sent me this morning: "With the purchase of the "THE TRAVELING VAMPIRE SHOW, " or any CALABRESE t-shirt From Hell, you're entered in the contest to win a Coffin Case direct from the CALABRESE dungeon! Three people will win FREE tattoos from Inkbomb Tattoo! Everyone will witness the greatest show of their lives!
Eternal Entertainment will be on hand for an open casting call for the upcoming CALABRESE music Video. We need Monsters - come dressed to impress - sexy rock sirens, zombies, Mexican wrestlers, vampires, human oddities -- you name it! The production company will be taking photos and contact info for all who are interested in staring in a CALABRESE music video."

As you may have read, I've been harassing the guys in Attack of the Giant Squid to let me hear their long-in-development-but-nearly-finished album. Last night they finally came through, treating me to a listen-through at guitarist Tony Patino's house.

You'll have to wait for the 2/8 edition of my column Revolver to hear the complete rundown, but if you're not familiar with the Squid, give yourself a primer with the demo tracks below. Attack of the Giant Squid is at its core a three piece - Patino, bassist David Gramp, and percussionist Noah Tallman. But factor in horn players Shea Marshall and Kevin Tangney, and artist Andy Haight, who makes the intricate psychedelic fliers for the band, and the Squid can indeed be giant. Here's the music...

"Rocketship to Thundera": http://media.newtimes.com/id/477102/

"Taking Mike to the Airport": http://media.newtimes.com/id/477105/

I've said it many times before, but I'm compelled to continue preaching that the Blunt Club is the best club night ever in town for real underground hip-hop. DumperFoo and his homeys keep proving it, week after week. Rather than dropping some names every week I figured I'd give y'all a heads up about a few exceptional lineups coming to the Thursday night getdown at Hollywood Alley. Tomorrow night, 1/25, Minneapolis-based P.O.S. from Slug's Rhymesayers collective is the headliner; if you don't know, he's a former punk rocker who retains that aesthetic in his raps, calling his music "rap to skateboard to." The week afterwards, on 2/2, locals DJ Smite and Johnny D are bringing the rare funk, soul and breaks, much of it courtesy of Johnny D's unmatched record collection. If you've never seen Johnny D, aka John Dixon, Arizona's Music Historian, drop the funk 7"s before, it's well past time. Get your ass down there and learn yourself a thing or two. A bit further down the road, but worth marking the calendar for on March 8, is Rob Swift of the legendary turntable crew the X-ecutioners is hitting the Blunt, and debuting his new film "As the Tables Turn," which features the X-Men, QBert, Shortkut, Mix Master Mike, and more luminaries of turntablism. Be there.

Spent the last week or so immersing myself in the 8-piece live hip-hop/jazz project known as Antedote the Neato Project. If you're not familiar, you ought to be (you can read more about it in the 2/1 issue of New Times). These eight musicians kick out soulful, intricate hip-hop with two MC's and two female vocalists, heavy on the vibe and easy on the ears. Check it:

In other news, I just heard that Mike Busse (the rapper from Chronic Future) is playing a show with Back Ted N Ted, Ryan Breen's glitchy laptop-rockin' project, on February 2nd, so mark your calendars. It's a First Friday throwdown, and it's free; at the Laughing Giraffe at 1023 Grand Avenue. The show starts early, around 7:30 or 8, and they'll be selling off the remaining copies of "This and That," the latest recording from these guys. Don't miss it...

Chase and his cronies at Bad Stain Records have posted up this year's nominees for the unfortunately named Arizona Ska-Punk Awards (although I know the contraction's snuck its way into common vernacular, I just think that "ska-punk" is a stupid fucking term).

Nonetheless, it is an interesting democratic you-pick-the-winner contest, and it's always interesting to see who's voted in for what category. The nominees are listed here; the actual awards ceremony is sometime after the 2/28 deadline at the clubhouse. these are a few of the more interesting categories, just to give you a taste:

BEST ALBUM:
Zombeast - S/T
Sigma - Violence Speaks Louder Than Words
And the Hero Fails - Empire Smile
Parkway Wretch - Homesick
Job for a Cowboy - Doom

BEST EMO GROUP:
De Sole'
Dear and the Headlights
Lydia
Goodbye Tomorrow
Movie Script Ending

BEST VIDEO:
My Doll - Time
The Dames - Boys and Booze
Job For A Cowboy -
Entombment Of A Machine
Sigma - The Grass Is Greener
Sigma - God Hates Flags

LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Sid Copeland
Will Anderson
Tyler King
Leslie Barton
Kimber Lanning

Alright, I confess, I started choking/laughing my ass off when I saw Tyler King nominated for lifetime achievement; he's also up for best promoter, that one makes a little more sense...

Admittedly it's a slow blog day when I have to resort to putting absolutely horrible spectacles up on here, but this is so bad, it's... just fucking bad. No, the band Lordi isn't local (Daggrr from Army of Robots hit me up with this), they're Finnish, and apparently won the Eurovision Song Contest last year, which means that contest must be a bunch of bullshit. But enough preamble, check it:

And don't forget the big b-day party for Dumperfoo at the Blunt Club tonight, that shit will be hype...

Damn, a glitch in the interweb prevented this from going up with the previous post about the swell kids in Peachcake, Stefan Pruett and Johnny O'Keefe. Stefan sent me over these tracks for all you fans and haters out in the blogosphere to scope out.

But also, besides the nifty compilation CD I wrote about before, the duo are soliciting short video clips from fans to integrate into their live show. Here's what they're asking for: "We want you to help us develop that show by sending us your inspirational video clips 10-30 seconds in length. Basically it plays on the idea used by youtube. The idea is that YOU the fans send in the video material and we then choose clips from all those sent in for the background video in our show. We are looking for funny, creative, inspirational, cute, wacky, audacious, spectacular and wild videos, stills and animations that will form a montage of images that will accompany the guys as they jam their rad space tunes."

These two took a while to grow on me musically, but one of my favorite things about them is that they really integrate their fans into their art and are so freakin' sincere all the time. to check out more about the video project, go to http://www.myspace.com/peachcakevideos. Meanwhile, here's the music... cutesy titles and all.

"Stop Acting Like You Know More About the Internet Cafe Than Me": http://media.newtimes.com/id/446992/

"Did I Just Do That, Or Was It Jim Carrey": http://media.newtimes.com/id/447073/

I always enjoy the little missives I'm sent from Stefan of weirdo duo Peachcake, but this one was so exceptional I had to share it with everybody, 'cause it's a damn thoughtful and interesting idea. Check it...

2007 has gotten off to a relatively slow start. We've been home now since the beginning of December, meandering through the holidays, amongst the family bruhaha, and though it's been nice, and a bit of some needed downtime, or a necessary "break" in the action of sorts, I couldn't help but think about how I wanted it to be over with haste, so we could move on and get the ball rolling to continue the progression(s) toward our goal of bettering and improving the world, and its current homeostasis.

We wanna see you kids, and finish this album so we can rock the world together!

Fortunately, through all the hardship, boredom, relaxation, good times of catching up with family, and the holiday feeding frenzy (literally and figuratively), there was one thing that's kept me sane...the finding/discovery, and listening of new music, or music I should've checked out long ago, but neglected to, or that was meaningful and relevant to me through the last stretch of the year.

Below is a list of bands that made their way to me through the holiday ambiguity, goodness, and craziness through various mediums of friends-random desire...I hope you enjoy my post holiday mix, of sorts...

I encourage that you share, and add on/substitute songs, or subtract songs and create your OWN Post-Holiday mix that sums up the last part of 2006, the holiday's, New Years Eve, New Years, and the beginning of 2007. This should be an interesting little challenge!

Let's get started, shall we...

Peachcake's Post-Holiday Mix CD, Part 1:

Brand New- Sowing Season (Yeah) (I listened to this a lot when going through rough times with a lovely lady)
Xiu Xiu- I Luv the Valley (OH!) (I listened to this at the frustration of the music industry)
The Presidents of the United States of America- Mach 5 (I listened to this to cheer me up from the hard times with the lovely lady, and imagined putting on some of the most happy-go-lucky performances ever!)
Gnarls Barkley- Crazy/Just a Thought (See above)
The Flaming Lips- Bad Days (I listened to this while having a mild break-down on the Spitalfield tour. Thank you Flaming Lips, for giving me hope that every thing is going to be ok, and is achievable if you just stick with it)
Shiny Toy Guns- Don't Cry Out (This song is responsible for connecting to me to said lovely lady, who is a very special person)
Underworld- Two Months Off (This song could just take me out of any mood and automatically put me in a super good, happy one)
Beck- Cellphone's Dead (This song helped me recap the good times with friends/lady friend)
Belle and Sebastian- The Boy with the Arab Strap (Great song for being on the road, on tour)
Brand New- Jesus (See aforementioned Lady friend songs)
Tag Team- Whoomp There is Is (This song will always take me back to the Hellogoodbye tour, and hanging out with all the kids from HGB, Cute, and Ozma!)
The Knife- You take my Breath Away- (Another one of those songs that makes me think of the good times!)
Ima Robot- Creeps Me Out (Helped focus on the goofy/awkward points of being in a relationship.)
Junior Boys- Like a Child (This song just makes me really pensive, and can really take me out of all emotion and make me observe exactly what's in the moment, it really helped describe the mood of the last month)
Kinky- A Donde Van Los Muertos (This song just makes me wanna move my body, and gives me inspiration musically)
Radio 4- This is not a Test (This song created much inspiration to get percussion/live percussive elements more thoroughly ingrained in our set/music)
Hot Chip- The Warning (This song is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time)
Hot Chip- Over and Over (Solid Groove Remix)- A remix of a great song by one of my fav. bands of the year, it really just made me have great visualizations of how things should sound when music is playing.
Smashing Pumpkins- Drown (This song just made me appreciate music that will always be important, influential, and a classic to me)
James Brown (in general) I got really into him this year...despite some of his personal flaws, I really admire, and am inspired by his ability to sing/dance/perform like he does, it's magic!
The Flaming Lips- When You Smile (This song makes me the happiest boy ever, and makes me thinking that making the world a better place is possible).
Death Cab For Cutie- I will follow you into the Dark (I think this song is simply incredible, and I'll never forget the music video. It really reminds me of how possible it is to love someone and care completely for them).
The Killers- Read My Mind (This one helped me a lot through a rough time)
Echo and the Bunnymen- The Killing Moon (Summed up the way I felt about a relationship.)
Les Savy Fav - No Sleeves (This song makes me think of not being afraid to freak out!)
Head Automatica- Beating Heart Baby (I guess it just makes me think of someone special).
Of Montreal- Gronlandic Edit (I love songs where people sound out of their mind with paranoia or bitterness).
Say Hi To Your Mom- Let's Talk About Spaceships (This pretty much sums up the way I've felt for the entire last month of my life in things).

We need to just take some time out and share feelings, and emotions with one another...it will give us great insight into each other, and help us understand ourselves and those around us better. Please make a Post-Holiday mix for your friends, and share it with them, if you have time.

Let us know what music helped you and was part of your soundtrack to the end of the year shinanigans, and the beginning of the year mood! Feel free to repost this!

Thank you, and hope you have a wonderful day.

-Stefan

I don't ordinarily get vindictive towards bands that I actually like, but I've got to solicit y'all's assistance in lighting a fire under the arses of the guys in spazz/punk outfit We Fly Our Kites at Night. The boys, who I wrote about more than a year ago here, released a new record on December 15, Killing Ray Brauer, which included a song that I inspired: "'I Want My Alcohol to Taste Like Alcohol, Not Candy': BJK" (you can listen to it here), but despite continually haranguing them to hook me up with a copy of the record, I've got jack shit.

It's not like I haven't seen them; I regularly drink heavily with Marcus, the vocalist, and the band's guitarist Justin just gave me a haircut. So I'm asking for your help. Hop on the band's Myspace page, found here, and tell them to get me a goddamn CD so I can post more of the new songs up on this piece.

In the meantime, have a listen to some of the Kites' older shit....

"You Have to Think Like a Lion and Go for the Weakest of the Herd": http://media.newtimes.com/id/428339/

"The Swelling Never Goes Down": http://media.newtimes.com/id/428341/

I've been wondering what local indie/alt/punk trio the Necronauts have been up to lately; seems I haven't heard about any shows or tours recently, and they're one of the most entertaining acts we've got around here. If you've been missing Billy, Andrew and Dale as well, I've got good news - the band is playing a free show at the Paisley Violin on Saturday, January 13, with $1 beers and $5 bottles of wine to boot.

They're absence is understandable once I found out they've been recording with Seven Storey Mountain-man Lance Lammers over the winter, and expect to have a double album ready to go sometime this year. In the meantime, here's a couple of live tracks recorded at Modified Arts to sate your aural thirst. See you at the show.

"Haunted House": http://media.newtimes.com/id/427668/

"Familiar Burns": http://media.newtimes.com/id/427669/

In a couple of weeks you'll see my column about a few of the kids that attend the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, one of the premier sound engineering schools in the country, located right here in Tempe and Gilbert.

I've been hanging out with a few kids ("kids" being relative; some are teens still, some in their thirties) that are in the next graduating class at the Conservatory, listening to their projects (almost all want to be producers) and asking their evaluations of what their money's buying over there (the shit ain't cheap).

But whether or not it's worth the dough, the real payback on kicking it with these guys is hearing a variety of takes on the music industry and what they expect out of it once their education and internships are complete. DJ My Friend Andy wants to do sound editing for films, Bryan Gaston wants to run a label, Rafael Flores wants to own a studio; all agree that without their conservatory education they wouldn't have realized exactly what options are out there for producers and engineers, or even what those job titles really encompass.

You'll have to wait a couple weeks to hear the full story, but meanwhile scope out this track from 20 year old Sedona native Al Giles, aka AlGae. It's twitchy, glitchy shit, in the Kid 606/Tigerbeat 6/NinjaTune vein. Pretty tight...

http://media.newtimes.com/id/422737/