Blogs

By Niki D’Andrea

For the past six weeks, I’ve been asking local bands to send their CDs to me for review in this weekly “You Asked for It” blog. The original idea was that bands who complained about not getting coverage from us while we covered “inferior” local bands could finally get what they wanted – and the original premise was that a lot of these local CDs would suck (some of the complainers had actually sent me their CDs, and I didn’t like the music, so I declined to write a negative review, which meant no review at all). I vowed to review every single local CD sent my way (in the order they were received), and write my honest opinions, for good OR bad.

Surprisingly, I’ve only gotten one CD so far that I really didn’t like and ripped to shreds – that was metal band Reign of Vengeance, fronted by Marshall “Fucking” Beck, who has often told me that I don’t know shit about real metal.

But I do. And so does the band whose CD I’m reviewing this week, Fracture Point. I’ve been a fan of their monstrously guttural and progressive metal since seeing them play at the Brickhouse Theatre last year, a show I retreaded in my Niki at Nite column. When Fracture Point’s debut, full-length CD hit my desk, I couldn’t wait to pop it in the player.

Fracture Point
Inherit the Downfall
(self-released)
Phoenix metal band Fracture Point sounds like a mastodon stampede, but instead of directionless destruction, this beast intelligently winds its way through a well-constructed maze of down-tuned guitars, burly bass lines, screaming solos, and tricky timing changes. In the “sounds like” category, they’re akin to bands like Lamb of God (largely because, like LoG singer Randy Blythe, FP singer Ben Rosputni deftly alternates between sickeningly guttural vocals and pointed, upper-register screams), Dillinger Escape Plan (with whom FP shares a fondness for unconventional song structures), and Tool (like Tool, FP exhibits stunning musicianship on the part of every player, often stretching across epic songs riddled with doomy tribal beats and crunchy chord progressions). One listen to the song “Manic Aggression,” with its sinister, roiling bass lines and bludgeoning power chords, and it’s clear that Fracture Point has a visceral connection with metal, and knows how to pick the bones of the genre to a glowing sheen. By the same turn, they’re not paradigm purists, either -- Inherit the Downfall stretches the boundaries of metal, from the jazz-infused instrumental “J69” to “Last Minute” – which pummels the listener with lurching rhythms and sledgehammer-heavy guitars for five minutes before creeping the listener out with a hauntingly beautiful piano melody for the last two. For those who like their metal served heavy, but with a side of intellect, Fracture Point hits the mark with brutal force.

NEXT WEEK’S REVIEW: The new album from Valley rapper Fetti Profoun.

By Jonathan McNamara

Experimental epic or Halloween soundtrack? This is the question you must answer by listening to RPM Orchestra.

Today's track "Fields of Gavotte" will be appearing on the orchestra's album which will be released "later this summer," so sayeth the orchestra.

For more information, check out RPM Orchestra on myspace.

Want to get your music Up on the Sun?

By Niki D’Andrea

Normally, my Monday blog is devoted to “Niki’s Weekend Word,” but this past weekend was a bust for me – not because there was nothing going on, but because 1) I felt ill, and 2) It takes $65 to fill my gas tank and less than three days for me to go through it when I’m driving to clubs all over the Valley.

The latter challenge has led me to become one of those “hypermilers,” people who try to save on gas by doing simple things like not accelerating like a drag racer when red lights turn green (like those idiots who put spoilers on their 80s-model Hondas and suddenly think they’re Tony Stewart) and not doing 75 mph in a 55 mph zone on the freeway.

Boy, does this piss people off. People often do “the angry pass” around me -- you know, where the person rides your ass for two miles , then swiftly tears into the next lane, loudly accelerates, and swerves in front of you, like they’re so infuriated that you dared to do the speed limit when they’re clearly in a huge hurry to get to the next red light.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end of the summer, road rage cases in Phoenix escalate because of hyperdrivers and the hyperassholes who’d rather take the time to stop and hurt someone whose driving habits pissed them off, rather than just go on their angst-ridden way. People need to learn to relax behind the wheel here, but it’s hard because it’s so damn hot and people are used to flying along on the freeways as if gas didn’t cost upwards of four bucks a gallon.

But as I discovered this weekend, there is a soundtrack for hyperdrivers that can help relax their minds and lighten their lead feet. And perhaps angry, hurried drivers should consider swapping out their drive-time jams of Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55” and Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” for a playlist that more properly lends itself to a leisurely pace.

Here (in no particular order) are my top 6 “Hyperdriving Tunes”:

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By Niki D’Andrea

Here are a handful of shows that were just announced this week.

Sarah Brightman
Sunday, December 21, 8 p.m.
Jobing.com Arena in Glendale
$34.80-$234.80 (www.ticketmaster.com)

Classical crossover artist Sarah Brightman makes lots of thing go “pop,” whether producers are layering synthesizers over a guitar hook based on the Portugese fado tradition, or blending her soprano voice with Middle Eastern music-themed electronica. Brightman’s latest album, Symphony, employs more gothic music influences than her previous records. An alternate of one of the bonus tracks on the album, “I Will Be with You,” was used as the theme for the tenth Pokemon film, The Rise of Darkrai.

Random band fact: Brightman was married to famed British composer Andrew Lloyd Weber for six years.

Below: The original video for Sarah Brightman’s “Deliver Me”:

Chubby Checker
Sunday, August 10, 2 and 6 p.m.
The Ballroom at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa
$27.50 (www.harrahs.com)

Chubby Checker had a huge hit in 1960 with his song “The Twist,” and has been synonymous with it ever since: “Let’s Twist Again” followed in 1961, then “Slow Twistin” in 1962, and in 1987, he recorded a new version of “The Twist” with rap group Fat Boys. Checker’s also known for 1962’s “Limbo Rock” and a handful of other golden oldie dance hits, but we expect “The Twist” to be the gist when Checker plays the Valley.

Random band fact: Chubby Checker was born Ernest Evans, and takes his stage name from a suggestion from longtime American Bandstand host Dick Clark.

Below: The original video for Checker’s “Let’s Twist Again.”

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By Jonathan McNamara

A bassoon, a bass clarinet, a guitar, assorted percussion, a cello and ethereal vocalizations are the combined elements that give Dry River Yacht Club their strange but undeniable charm.

Hear the eclectic group in action with a song called "Broken Back."

Dry River Yacht Club will soon be embarking on a two week tour of the southwest before releasing their first EP at a Yucca Tap Room release party on July 25.

For more information, check out Dry River Yacht Club on myspace.

Want to get your music Up on the Sun?

By Benjamin Leatherman

Last one out, turn off the light-up dance floor.

For Phoenix’s nightlife scene, the bad news just keeps on coming.

First, there was the announcement that downtown Phoenix indie rock haven OnePlace was closing up shop at the end of July because of financial woes. Then, as music editor Niki D’Andrea reported yesterday, the city of Phoenix shut down Sky Lounge and Silver Martini & Wine (as well as the second floor of Homme Lounge) due to various building code issues.

And now, here’s the hat-trick: popular danceteria and nightspot Glam is closing after this weekend.

It came as a surprise to us, since the tiny club at 32nd Street and Indian School Road is seemingly swamped with hepcat scenester types eager to bump their humps to indie and electro tracks on its signature illuminated dance floor during nights like Faux Show on Fridays and Word Up! on Saturdays.

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By Steve Jansen

My Feral Kin rocks the world music tip

If you checked out my "Noise Boy" column on My Feral Kin a few months back, you probably gathered, at the very least, that I'm digging on their fusion of rock and world music. Like, big-time.

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By Jonathan McNamara

A day of punk-rocking, T-shirt purchasing and baking in the summer sun drew to a close as Gym Class Heroes rapped one last song into the Phoenix night. The sweat-drenched fury that is the Vans Warped Tour was over for another year.

But fret not, Warped Tour Fans. You still have your memories and just in case that's not enough here are a couple of slide shows for you to check out.

Vans Warped Tour at Cricket Wireless Pavilion

See shots from performances by Say Anything, Against Me, Mayday Parade, Gym Class Heroes, and The Academy Is...

My girlfriend made me watch this emo band or how to survive Vans Warped Tour

Several of the sets on Warped Tour featured picture-perfect boys, screaming female fans and their boyfriends reluctantly along for the ride. Check out these grumpy significant others and a few other oddities from the Vans Warped Tour

Podcast: Vans Warped Tour Primer

If you still need more, check out our Wednesday podcast post featuring six tracks from Vans Warped Tour artists Between the Trees, Forever the Sickest Kids, Beat Union, The Color Fred, Pierce the Veil and 3OH!3.

By Niki D’Andrea

Back in November of last year, I wrote about a blog about the Decades Music Theme Park, a massive amusement park with areas themed by decade (‘50s through ‘80s) and rides with rock ‘n’ roll themes.

I initially made fun of the concept, primarily because of the proposed location for the park: Eloy, Arizona, a small city that lies alongside a stretch of the I-17 South between Phoenix and Tucson. It’s never exactly been a haven for tourists.

But proponents and supporters are apparently taking the park very seriously, as yesterday, the park proposition (Senate Bill 1450) passed with a 17-9 vote. The legislation already passed earlier this year with a 17-11 vote, but was struck down 39-17 in the House of Representatives after the bill was amended.

The bill now heads to the Governor’s office, where Janet Napolitano will decide its fate. We’ll keep you posted.

By Niki D’Andrea

It hasn’t been a very good year for Sky Lounge. The popular downtown dance club made news headlines in May, when a group of men leaving the club got into a fight outside the building that escalated into a shooting, leaving one man injured and another dead.

And last week, Sky Lounge was shut down by inspectors from the City of Phoenix’s Neighborhood Services Department for building code violations. What those specific violations were is unclear; we’ve made a public records request to City Clerk David Ramirez, and Sky Lounge owner Ivan Padilla says, “We had problems with the construction codes -- a lot of electrical issues, walls that didn’t fit the permit, stuff like that.”

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By Benjamin Leatherman

If there’s one thing that YouTube is no short supply of, it’s homemade music videos. I’ve personally lost count of the times my eyes have been assaulted by streaming clips of goofy teenage girls lip-synching to rock and pop music, relentlessly random slideshows of weird images set to some of my favorite songs, or some machinima-style deal made with MMORPG footage.

These music vids range from the absolutely bizarre to the utterly banal, as jillions of wanna-be Michael Gondrys of the world have funneled their furious fandom into Windows Movie Maker (or whatever editing software they can lay their hands on). A good chunk of this MTV-gone-DIY action features bands from around our sprawled-out burg, made by fans both locally and elsewhere.

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By Lilia Menconi

As we approached our 80th Club Candids, we were beginning to think this town was totally tapped out. These past weeks, we’ve had to be a bit bolder with our choices and run the risk of heading into clubs that felt more like superficial war zones than a sea of exciting prospects. But this weekend, the gamble paid off when we found a spot that is totally our style.

Okay, so he's not a hot chick. Just look at the slideshow anyway.

The British Open Pub is tucked into the same plaza as Papago Brewery (another fave). Inconspicuous and tiny, it was no surprise that we’d discovered a relaxed crowd inside. The place was clean, with comfy booths, a hardwood bar, and a lovely little corner with a few arcade games and darts. Patrons were happily munching on some tasty-looking pub food and enjoying conversation that was actually audible. (Not to mention, there were some pretty fine babes behind the bar.) It’s moments like these that make this club-hopping gig worth it.

The British Open English Pub in Scottsdale, 1334 N Scottsdale Rd, 480-941-4915 www.thebritishopenpub.com.

Face it, every once in a while you like to get a little post-punk. Hell, maybe you even occasionally need to sing an emo-ballad if only to your steering wheel. Luckily for you there is a time and place for you and it's The Vans Warped Tour.

Warped Tour hits Cricket Wireless Pavilion today at noon. Before you strap on your skater shoes and become one of the sweaty masses, take this opportunity to listen to a few of the bands playing tomorrow.

Between the Trees

Check out 90 seconds of Between the Trees' "The Way She Feels."

Forever the Sickest Kids

Also bringing you a mere 90 seconds of audio joy, here's Forever the Sickest Kids with "Whoaoh."

3OH!3
Electronic duo 3OH!3 brings you a track with trace amounts of Mindless Self Indulgence influence in "Punk Bitch."

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By Niki D’Andrea

About a month ago, I posted a blog asking Phoenix artists to send me their CDs for review. This week, I review the latest disc from Valley singer/songwriter Matthew Reveles, whom I first saw perform back in 2002 at a “Battle of the Bands” at ASU West. He’s come a long way.

If you're a local artist and would like to send me your CD for review, please mail it to:
Niki D'Andrea (Attn: YAFI)
c/o Phoenix New Times
1201 E. Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034

Matthew Reveles
We’ll Meet Halfway
(Independent Freedom Tribe)

Reveles reveres the ’60s, and his affinity for retro harmonies and stripped-down traditional folk is apparent on every track here, even if the album does open with the bluesy instrumental “Give It a Try.” The following track, “Danny Boy,” is back porch folk, right down to the country gee-tar picking and hand claps. Similarly, “Oh My Lord” sounds very Bob Dylan-meets-Ryan Adams (in an alley for a drunken jam tribute to Townes Van Zandt). Other songs, like “The New One for Reals” and “Maybe Sometimes,” resemble dreamy Beatles tunes, laden with overdubbed vocal harmonies. Except for rare moments like the whimsical pop ditty “That Girl” (which includes quirky horns, a kazoo, and the lyric “She’s got a PhD in LuV”), Reveles’ songs invoke images of melancholy Americana -- dusty back country roads, hippies hopping trains, and forlorn folks sippin’ whiskey on rickety plankwood porches. In fact, much of Reveles’ harmonic troubador twang seems to draw inspiration from a bottle, as he sings in the song “Late Night Lullabies”: “Never mind these constant cries/They’re just drunken, late night lullabies.”

By Benjamin Leatherman

Here's a rundown of the top 10 best-sellers at Stinkweeds Record Exchange, 12 West Camelback Road, for the week of June 16 to 22.

1. Fleet Foxes, Self-titled (Sub Pop)
2. Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer (Sub Pop)
3. My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges (ATO)
4. The Notwist, The Devil, You + Me (Domino)
5. Coldplay, Viva La Vida (Capitol)
6. Silver Jews, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City)
7. Spiritualized, Songs in A&E (Sanctuary)
8. The Black Angels, Directions to See a Ghost (Light in the Attic)
9. Islands, Arm's Way (Anti)
10. Joan As Police Woman, To Survive (Cheap Lullaby)