Interview

Marley D. Williams of Rebelution Talks Endless Touring, Stepping Up the Band's Game, and the Summer Festival Circuit

By Lenni Rosenblum Thu., May 19 2011 at 8:00 AM
Categories: Interview

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Rebelution
After a concert cancellation on March 30 due to a band member's illness, Rebelution came back to Tempe last week on May 14 to play a make-up show and show off their one-of-a-kind reggae vibes. The four-piece band has got an awful lot of fans here, and their music is practically guaranteed to be heard at any apartment complex that's dominated by college students from ASU.Up On The Sun spoke to Rebelution bassist Marley D. Williams, and oh man, did he have a lot to say.



Everyone can appreciate a talkative bass player, since they seem to be few and far between (except for P-Nut of 311 and a few others). His outgoing personality is just another reason to watch him and his bandmates express themselves through their uplifting music.


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festivals, Marquee Theatre, Rebelution, summertime, tour
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Interview

The Love Me Nots' Nicole Laurenne on New Album, New/Old Drummer and Beating Breast Cancer

By Mike Meyer Fri., May 13 2011 at 9:00 AM
Categories: Interview, Mp3, Show Preview
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Jason Garcia
The Love Me Nots
​If you're looking for an example of the old platitude that "attitude is everything," you could do a lot worse than Love Me Nots vocalist/organist Nicole Laurenne. Less than a year removed from a breast cancer scare that forced the band into a five-month hiatus, Laurenne is back onstage and ready hit the road in support of the band's new album, The Demon and the Devotee.

The album is already available on iTunes and 180 gram vinyl (and on CD in France), but Valley fans will finally be able to cop a good, old-fashioned CD at the band's release show this Saturday night at the Yucca Tap Room. It's the band's fourth album, and like their first three albums, it was recorded by former White Stripes producer Jim Diamond.

The Love Me Nots went on indefinite hiatus soon after Laurenne was diagnosed in July 2010, but Laurenne and her bandmates -- guitarist (and Laurenne's husband) Michael Johnny Walker, bassist Kyle Rose Stokes and drummer Jay Lien -- returned in time for a New Year's Eve show at the Yucca.


After the break, check out a stream of "The Girl Lights Up" from the new album and an e-mail Q&A with Laurenne about her cancer scare, the new album and Lien's return to the band.


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interview, mp3, nicole laurenne, stream, the demon and the devotee, the girl lights up, the love me nots
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Interview

Bret Michaels Talks Boys & Girls Club, the Barrow Neurological Institute, Sharing a Stage with Motley Crüe and Rock of Love

By Michael Lopez Thu., May 12 2011 at 8:00 AM
Categories: Interview
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Nancy Mazzei
Bret Michaels is set to rock the Scottsdale waterfront this Friday in support of the Phoenix Children's Hospital and The Boy's & Girls Club of Scottsdale
​

It's no real secret that I am a fan of Bret Michaels. I always had an appreciation for what he accomplished as the lead singer of hair metal band Poison back in the heyday of the Sunset Strip. I maintain that the rock/metal movement of the Sunset Strip in the 1980s is the one music scene I wish I could have been a part of -- I mean, can you imagine the people-watching back then? It's mind-boggling -- yet Michaels was the face of one of that scene's most beloved bands. Oh, to be there for of some of those parties.

I digress. Michaels re-upped his image in 2007 with his VH1 reality dating show Rock of Love, availing himself to a new, younger generation of fans -- myself included. The show was beyond a guilty pleasure for myself -- it was something I truly enjoyed watching, as "trashy" and whatever else others derogatorily deemed it to be. I saw the genius behind Bret Michaels truly come to light during the three seasons of Rock of Love.

When asked if I would want to do an interview with Bret Michaels in anticipation of his upcoming Friday night show at the Scottsdale Waterfront, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.


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Boys & Girls Club of Scottsdale, Bret Michaels, Bret Michaels Band, Motley Crüe, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Poison, Rock the Waterfont
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Interview

Fatboy Slim Talks Las Vegas, Detroit, Quitting Drinking, and How Cool Americans Think They Are

By Jason P. Woodbury Wed., May 11 2011 at 12:00 PM
Categories: Interview
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​
Norman Cook, a.k.a. Fatboy Slim, has been rocking beats hard since the late '70s, when he played in bands like Disque Attack and the Housemartins. He achieved mainstream popularity in the '90s, when "Praise You" blew up as a radio staple.

In recent years, Cook has focused on production, stepping away from the DJ role. His upcoming residency at Vegas' Marquee Dayclub at the Cosmopolitan will find Fatboy Slim stepping back into the DJ booth.

We don't normally feature interviews with folks who aren't playing our fair town, but considering how easy the drive is to Glitter Town, we figured it wouldn't hurt to hear a few words from the man, who was charming and hilarious when we spoke with him about Las Vegas, Detroit, and how he's no longer "scraping himself off the floors."

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dance music, detroit, DJ, electronica, fatboy slim, las vegas
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Interview

Q&A: Toby Keith Reacts to the Death of Osama Bin Laden

By Michael Lopez Mon., May 2 2011 at 12:37 PM
Categories: Interview
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Toby Keith

​Two pretty big events have happened in recent hours -- events that will forever change the course of American history. First off, the obvious -- it was confirmed late last night that Osama Bin Laden was killed by close-range firefight by Navy Seals. Secondly, and maybe just as important, Miley Cyrus covered Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at her concert in Quito, Ecuador this past Friday.

Leave it up to American armed forces to steal all of Miley's thunder. Selfish bastards.

However, the only tragic thing about Bin Laden's death is the fact that country music singer and restaurant proprietor Toby Keith was overseas yesterday and did not have access to a cell phone. Keith could not tweet anything about last night's news, waiting until a few minutes ago to finally tweet that "It's a great day to be an American." 

Luckily, I somehow managed to secure an interview with Toby Keith in the very, very short time he's been back on American soil. Let's just say he's very pleased with the recent course of events.


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Courtesy of the Red White and Blue, Miley Cyrus, Navy Seals, Nirvana, Osama Bin Laden, Toby Keith
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Interview

Xavier Rudd on the McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Code Green Tasmania, Australian Flooding and More

By Lenni Rosenblum Fri., Apr. 29 2011 at 3:49 PM
Categories: Interview

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It's that time of year again: the McDowell Mountain Music Festival is here! Each year the festival brings in big names from all over the map, and this year is no exception, with Australian indie-folker Xavier Rudd playing. Rudd's multi-instrumentalist approach will surely add a special touch to the festival.

We spoke to Xavier about the Australian floods that occurred earlier this year, as well as some of the environmental causes about which he is most passionate. He also had some inspiring views about the spirit and meaning of music festivals in general.

Check out Xavier Rudd's headlining performance on Saturday, April 30, at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival at the Compound. For goodness sake, this guy can play every instrument under the sun, so don't miss his set!


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Australia, Code Green Tasmania, flooding, McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Xavier Rudd
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Interview

Q&A: The Growlers' Brooks Nielsen Talks Getting Drunk, Being Weird and Bill Murray

By Ade Kassim Thu., Apr. 28 2011 at 9:02 AM
Categories: Interview

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​ The Growlers aren't your average band. Sure, that statement might be sort of cliche, but take the time to listen to these guys and you'll be convinced they're far from traditional. Blending elements of surf rock with psychedelic pop and intriguing lyrics, they're part of the recent re-emergence of no-holds bared, garage-pop influenced bands such as The Fresh and Onlys, Sonny & The Sunsets, Girls, and Thee Oh Sees. Unlike those bands though, The Growlers have more of an experimental approach to making their finely-crafted tunes.Think of their music as sort of a journey through a mind-bending cultural experience.

Hell, even Bill Murray loves their music and their quest to find the perfect drunken mind-state.

Up on the Sun caught up with The Growlers member Brooks Nielsen during a well-earned break from drinking, touring, and making music. We chatted about the group's weird ways and their show at The Rhythm Room tonight.

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Bill Murray, Brooks Nielsen, The Growlers
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Interview

Joe Purdy Talks Songwriting, How To Lose A Job and The Office

By Mike Escoto Wed., Apr. 27 2011 at 9:13 AM
Categories: Interview

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Joe Purdy

You may not instantly recognize the name but if you're a fan of prime time dramas on network television there is a chance you may have heard the songs of Joe Purdy. The Arkansas singer-songwriter has had songs appear on Lost, House, and has become a bit of a regular on Grey's Anatomy. The exposure gained from appearing on those shows has lead audiences to the singer's work - and there is a lot of it. Joe Purdy often releases two or three albums a year.

Purdy's headed out on tour in support of his latest, This American, released in December of last year. That tour will bring him to the Rhythm Room on Wednesday, April 27.

Up on the Sun recently caught up with Joe Purdy as he was building a porch for his house in Arkansas. He was nice enough to take time out from his home project to talk to us about the song-writing process, how to lose a job, and The Office.


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Grey's Anatomy, House, Joe Purdy, Lost
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Announcements

Yellow Canary Dance Hall To Take Over Warehouse Venue Sound Kontrol

By Jason P. Woodbury Mon., Apr. 25 2011 at 4:13 PM
Categories: Announcements, Interview
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Steinbrink is opening a venue, not pizza store.
​
With the folks over at Cityslaang and YOBS closing doors, musician Stephen Steinbrink (French Quarter) and James Fella, of Gilgongo Records, have stepped up to the plate with Yellow Canary Dance Hall, scheduled to take over warehouse venue Sound Kontrol in South Phoenix, one of City Slaang's prime spots.

"We're still currently figuring out exactly what we have planned for the Dance Hall," says Steinbrink.

"I don't think its ever been a dream of James' or mine to start a venue, but when YOBS will be closing this summer and Jes Barnett (former instigator of Cityslaang, Sound Kontrol, Pigeon Religion) throwing in the towel as far as booking shows, we saw a need in our small community and decided to fill it."

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City Slaang, James Fella, Stephen Steinbrink, Yellow Canary Dance Hall
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Interview

Jessi Colter on Chickstock, the Arizona Desert, Riding Metaphorical Side Saddle, and More

By Sarah Ventre Fri., Apr. 22 2011 at 10:59 AM
Categories: Interview
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Original outlaw country woman Jessi Colter

​Jessi Colter is a woman full of surprises. She's most famous for her work on albums like Wanted! The Outlaws featuring her late husband Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Tompall Glaser. But she's also maintained a highly successful solo career, and at the time that legendary record was made, she was the only one who already had a gold record under her belt.

Though the Arizona woman is a country icon, her span of influences include gospel and jazz, and she finds unique ways to combine them into something that is distinctly her own.
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Chickstock, Jessi Colter, Outlaws, Waylon Jennings
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