Phoenix Music Blog

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​Vocalist/guitarist Masaki Murashita of Phoenix metal band Hemoptysis has a new toy to show off. He's recently been sponsored by Jackson Guitars and received a limited-edition EMG-X King V, which he'll be displaying at upcoming shows, including a November 21 gig at Mardi Gras in Scottsdale.

The band's also being honored as Metal Band of the Year at the 2nd Annual Phoenix Music Awards in Los Angeles at the Avalon Theater November 12. The awards show recognizes nearly 20 Valley bands, including Butcher Jones.

Hemoptysis is currently promoting their latest EP, Who Needs a Shepherd? The heavy EP, which the band describes as having a futuristic metal style that combines several sounds, includes the track, "Shadow of Death," a commentary of the Iraq War.

Still pissed about that David Allen Coe show being canceled at Last Exit Bar & Grill? Join the club. We recommend heading out to catch indie pop act Neba and jam band What Laura Says tonight, at a free show at the Tempe live music venue. You can catch two hot up-and-coming Valley acts and talk to management about getting a refund if you're one of the unlucky cats still waiting to get your money back.

Neba will also perform Thursday, Oct. 8 at Phoenix's First Christian Church, Friday, Oct. 9 at the Sail Inn as part of the Dry River Yacht Club CD Release Show and Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Yucca Tap Room with Dry River Yacht Club.

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Daisy, the forthcoming album from Long Island indie/hardcore band Brand New isn't out until next Tuesday, Sept. 22, but thanks to MySpace, you can check out the disc in its entirety before it drops next week. The band is streaming its fourth disc on their MySpace page.

After giving the stellar album a full listen, we can't wait to see them live next month. Like a fine wine, Brand New continues to get better with age. Be sure to check out tracks like "At the Bottom," "Gasoline" and "Daisy," the title track. You can also check out the guys performing "Sowing Season (Yeah)" from The Devil And God in the studio during the Daisy sessions here.

The band will debut some new material for an AZ audience when they headline Mesa Ampitheatre Thursday, Oct. 22. Manchester Orchestra and The Builders and The Butchers are also on the bill. Tickets are $24-$28 and show kicks off at 6:15 p.m.

​Looking for your chance to shine in a music video? Hit up The Attitude on MySpace. The glam rockers are searching for "hip guys and gals" to be apart of their video shoot on Sunday, September 20, for a new track. According to a bulletin the band posted on the social networking Web site, the shoot will be around six hours long. If you're interested in being their next video star, hit up the guys via their MySpace page.

The guys are also slated to perform Friday, October 30, at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale at ll-ages show.

​Sssh. Thrice is playing a secret show at The Clubhouse Music Venue this coming Monday, September 14 -- or a not-so-secret show if you've been on MySpace lately. We noticed the show was pimped all over the social networking powerhouse when we logged on earlier this afternoon.

The post-hardcore rockers are touring in support of their new album Beggars, which hits store shelves the next day on Tuesday, September 15. We're guessing the band will debut some brand new material during the show on Monday. Doors are at 7 p.m. for the clandestine, all-ages event, which will also feature a set by openers Aushua. The earlier you arrive, the more likely you will get to be apart of the secret fun.

Saki Photography

Quick, synchronize your digital televisors! Violet Wild's gonna take to the Valley's airwaves.

​We admit that this is totally a last minute kinda thing, but we just learned that Tempe alt-poppers Violet Wild are gonna be performing a special acoustic set on today's edition of KPNX's Arizona Midday program, which airs at 1 p.m. this afternoon.  

But if you aren't able to catch guitarist Josh Kennedy and vocalist Bobby Scott hob-knobbing with host Destry Jetton and Jan D'Atri, the band will be gigging tonight at Tempe Marketplace's District Stage starting at 7 p.m.

Tempe's The Lucky Devil has been hosting some interesting events over the last few months - various rock shows, the Rockabilly Showdown, fun theme nights, etc) - putting themselves on our radar. On Friday, Oct. 2, the Tempe dive bar, which is located conveniently off a lightrail stop on Apache and Dorsey and sits next to Club Tattoo, will host a White Trash Keg Bash in honor of cutie pie bartender Eldon Bertsch's birthday.

The bar is inviting people to bring their own beer bongs for the party, which will feature $1 Natural Light beers and Jell-O shots and a Miss White Trash pageant for $100 prize.The bar will also award prizes for best trashy top and best jean shorts so be sure to get all trashed out if you want to score a fun prize. If you need some inspiration, we suggest cruising Van Buren. The party starts at 10 p.m. and cover is $5.

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Violet Wild have a couple of noteworthy shows on the horizon. The popular local pop-rock act will open for the once-popular rock band Fuel, who I didn't even know were still together until I passed a billboard at Tempe Marketplace earlier this week advertising a show on Friday Aug. 28 at Tempe Marketplace. When I shared this news via Twitter, one of my Tweeps said "how many times are they going to reinvent themselves?'' But I digress.

If you make it out to the show to see the "reinvention" of Fuel be sure to check out Violet Wild, who have been cranking out some solid new tracks during recent performances. The free show kicks off at 7 p.m.

In addition to opening for Fuel, Violet Wild will open for Better Than Ezra at the Marquee Theatre at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, a much better pairing. The band is offering pre-sale tickets for $10. You can stay posted on everything Violet Wild on the group's Twitter page. If you have to pick between the shows, I recommend Better Than Ezra. The guys always put on one hell of a performance.

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Tempe's brand spankin' new Madcap Theaters, which took the place of the defunct Harkins Centerpoint off Mill Avenue and 7th St., will host a Back to School Celebration with a weekend full of some of Arizona's most promising local bands.

You can check out Evan Brightly, Fiction, Little Persons Projectile, Kirkwood Dellinger and Crusher Sound System on Friday, Aug. 21 and Dry River Yacht Club, who are pictured, Coats and Villa, The Gospel Claws and Mobius Saturday, Aug. 22. Tickets are $6 for both all-ages shows and doors open at 7 p.m.

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​Local power-pop outfit Good With Grenades will release FBGM Monday, Aug. 10 nationally. The EP will be available on iTunes and in local record stores. 

When asked what FBGM stands for, GWG guitarist Ryan Speer would only offer "something not appropriate ... A little gangsta spinoff. Leave it to speculation."

"Yellow Minute is the next big buzz band," Rodney Hu, owner of Tempe's Yucca Tap Room and one of my good friends, declared during a recent phone conversation of the AZ band. "Just watch. You'll see."

After catching some of the band's performance at Hu's bar last week where they opened for Black Carl, who have quickly becomes one of my new faves, I can't help but think he may be onto something. The indie pop-rock band is super catchy and they packed in a big crowd at the small venue where fans were singing along. Lead singer Sean Brennan, who Tempe local scenesters know from the now defunct Ember Coast, sounded stronger than ever in his vocals, proving that his sound has matured over the years from when he fronted Ember Coast.

Catch the band at Yucca Tap Room, Friday, July 3 for a free show before they get too big for their Arizona britches. I know I'll be there.