Phoenix Blog

Jonathan McNamara

One sweaty day gave our crack team of journalists more fun and excitement than we get in a week. For us New Times folks that's really saying something.

Music Editor Martin Cizmar has already given you the low down on our written content, but I'd like to step in and direct you to our multimedia.

Several hundred shots were taken over the course of the day and we've whittled them down to the following slideshows:

Edgefest Part One

Featuring: Alkaline Trio, Mickey Avalon, and The Flobots

Edgefest Part Two

Featuring: NOFX, Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly and Paul Oakenfold

Also: Don't miss Eric Jacobs video series from Edgefest. Get an overview of the experience with this video. Check out a bit of Reverend Horton Heat's performance and watch this fat dude try to win a T-shirt by doing pull-ups for Marines. What a crazy day.

Don't miss: Benjamin Leatherman's video from the local stage at Edgefest.

By Jonathan McNamara

We've been hinting at it since we started covering Edgefest and now the wait is over. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Hot Girls and Wild Hair slideshow courtesy of Clubs Editor Benjamin Leatherman direct from Edgefest 2008.

Jonathan McNamara

There was more to Edgefest than Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello. Check out this video from video ninja (and clubs editor) Benjamin Leatherman showcasing local acts Comfort for Change, Captain Squeegee and the Soap Suds and Emerald Honor.

By Martin Cizmar

We've been steadily uploading more photos from Edgefest 2008, including some just in from Luke Holwerda. Check out the Flogging Molly and Atmosphere posts to see some awesome new stuff.

Oh, and here's more of Luke's shots, including headliner Paul Oakenfold.

By Martin Cizmar

We are dehydrated, sunburned and covered in a fine layer of Queen Creek dust – which water can’t seem to wash off – but we’re back from Edgefest 2008.

Yesterday, our team of eight bloggers brought you dozens of posts from beautiful Schnepf Farms, a peach orchard converted to concert venue hosting three stages for a looooong day of music. It was a good day though, as Reverend Horton Heat, Gogol Bordello, Kottonmouth Kings, The Kooks, Flobots, Alkaline Trio, Pennywise, NOFX, Rise Against and Flogging Molly all played.

If you’re just now joining us, here’s some of the best of what you missed. More photos – including a slideshow of some ridiculously good looking women – are coming today.

Jonathan McNamara took a helicopter ride above the festival. We’ll have more pictures from his flight later, so be sure to check back.

Michael Lopez told us what it was like in both the V.I.P area where the special fans ($150 makes you special) hung out, and in the backstage musician courtesy tent, where the the bands hung out before their shows. (Spoiler alert: they get Corn Nuts!)

Ace photographer Victor Palagano got some fantactic shots, many in this slideshow of Thrice, while Jonathan McNamara got some great shots of Alkaline Trio, including the crowd surfer at the top of the page.

Benjamin Leatherman told you where to find girls like this.

By Michael Lopez

Making my way back to the SRP Stage to catch some of Atmosphere’s set, I couldn’t help but think of the dichotomy presented by this year’s Edgefest lineup. One set earlier, the SRP Stage saw Kottonmouth Kings electrify the crowd and stupefy me.

Atmosphere gracefully took the stage with a backing band that included guitar, keys, turntables and a backup singer. The band broke out their smart, mellow hip-hop for the eager fans, a stark contrast to whatever abomination the Kottonmouth Kings spilled all over the stage not 30 minutes prior. Atmosphere’s hip-hop provided a nice break from all the moshing and circle dancing that the SRP Stage produced all day long. Fans watching Atmosphere chose to nod their heads and wave their hands instead of barreling into each other, something that the collective SRP Stage desperately needed after high-energy sets from Authority Zero, Gogol Bordello and Thrice.

Photos by Luke Holwerda

By Joe Golfen

With the threat of rain subsided and the snow melted into the matted grass, the stage was set for the high profile end of the Edgefest.

Adam Corrola, the new morning jock at the Edge, made his was onto the stage with his usually casualness. But for a man who typically has plenty to say, he only spoke briefly as the massive crowd cheered.

Photos by Luke Holwerda

By Michael Lopez

After about 40 minutes of no music on either stage – partly due to technical difficulties on both stages – Kottonmouth Kings and Rise Against filled the night’s air with some much-needed music. Rise Against had to suspend their set due to the difficulties, but were good enough sports to come back out and wrap up their set after the 40 minute hiatus.

By Martin Cizmar

So that guy from Dirty Scottsdale who is apparently out there blogging (though we haven't seen him, really) isn't the only one who can make fun of people who put themselves in compromising situations.

Witness this video of a hefty gentleman in a speedo captured by our crack videographer Eric Jacobs.

Yikes... By the way, we've added a short video shot in the crowd to our Revered Horton Heat post below. Check it out.

by Yvonne Zusel

At about 5:45, gypsy punk rockers Gogol Bordello do a sound check, and I'm pretty sure it was the first--and will be the last--time I ever hear such a rousing round of applause for a dude with an accordion.

Frontman Eugene Hutz has a mustache that makes it look like a small animal crawled onto his face and died on his upper lip, but God damn if he doesn't make me swoon as soon as he picks up his guitar and grabs ahold of the mic stand like it's a natural extension of his manhood. Most long-haired, meth-skinny dudes rocking pink socks and blue capri track pants would scream crazy right out of the gate, but he makes it work to his advantage.

His old man violin and accordion-playing sidekicks help complete the Klezmer wedding band on crack image. And the whole thing is just crazy enough and done with enough heart and conviction to make both the prepubescent girls and tatted dudes in the audience sing along with the words to "Sally" like there's no place they'd rather be. I realize I've had a smile plastered to my face since they played the first notes of their first song. Which, in my book, means I'm watching a damn fun show.

See more of Gogol Bordello here: