All photos by Melissa Fossum

She & Him (View the full slideshow.)
Comerica Theatre
June 18, 2013

Hear about She & Him at blog or magazine distance and your impression of them is dominated by the simple presence of Zooey Deschanel's name. Get a little closer, within range of one of their albums, and your impression of them is dominated by their sound -- thick and vintage and further away from twee pop than you probably expected, sounding like nothing so much as Roy Orbison circa Jeff Lynne and the Traveling Wilburys.

Closer still -- at Comerica Theatre on Tuesday -- neither impression holds true. Live, She & Him are neither an actress' side project nor an uncanny imitation of retro torch-pop. They're just an exceptionally tight band playing great songs.

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All photos by Caleb Haley

The Black Moods
RockBar Inc., Scottsdale
June 15, 2013

Old Town Scottsdale came alive last night when The Black Moods blew the roof off Rockbar. On the street, the usual busy social scene of Scottsdale seemed mellow for a Saturday night. But inside, it was apparent word of mouth had spread, emptying the surrounding clubs, as people crammed inside the long, narrow bar for the evening's performance.

Prior to taking the stage, all three members of The Black Moods mingled with the crowd. Hugging and laughing commenced as singer Joshua Kennedy, bassist Ryan Prier, and drummer Danny "Chico" Diaz interacted with the attendees.

Around 10:30, The Black Moods left the ground level and strutted on stage, cocksure and swaggering. The lights above filtered into a mysterious blue and Chico began spinning a pair of drumsticks between his fingers while eyeing his bandmates. Prier picked up the rhythm as his fingers walked along his bass, and Kennedy dove into a guitar riff that immediately put the crowd at attention.

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Melissa Fossum

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Celebrity Theatre (View the full slideshow.)
Thursday, June 6, 2013

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are a band of many talents, combining songs that could have been '70s rock anthems with Potter's powerhouse vocals, exuding blues, country, and pop flair.

The band's musical variety attracted a diverse crowd to the Celebrity Theatre last night, offering a little something for everybody.

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Melissa Fossum

The Thermals

The Thermals
Crescent Ballroom
Wednesday, June 12, 2013

If you like The Ramones, you probably would have loved last night's show. I know that's a lofty comparison, but Portland DIY pop punk trio The Thermals performed relatively simple but uber-catchy songs that kept the crowd moving throughout its 20 song set.

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All photos by Melissa Fossum

Fall Out Boy
Marquee Theatre (View the full slideshow.)
June 11, 2013

It was as if Fall Out Boy had never left.

When they played Marquee Theatre last night, it was hard to imagine they'd ever abandoned the scene and called it quits four years earlier. The Marquee was sold out, packed wall to wall with sweaty coed-agers. As the band opened their 90-minute, 20-song show with Jay-Z collabo "Thriller," and singer Patrick Stump moved ever-so-slightly away from the mike to let the crowd take control of singing duties, the fans didn't miss a lyrical beat.

The only thing different about Fall Out Boy was that the band was a little lighter -- Stump had lost some weight, and drummer Andy Hurley some locks. The signature black Pete Wentz hoodie was there, even in the Arizona heat, and guitarist Joe Trohman was a little fro-ier -- all the better to headbang with.

The guys, save for the shirtless Hurley, all wore black against a three-screen backdrop that declared "Save Rock Roll," almost the same as their current album, Save Rock and Roll. The guys tried announcing something right before they launched into the concert, but the screams drowned out whatever they said. Finally the music took over, as the band launched into a slew of classic hits and new favorites, with some lesser-known tracks thrown in.

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All photos by Caleb Haley

Last week, Up on the Sun asked readers whether traveling to a different state for a music festival was worth the trip. Well, what about a different country? Last weekend in Puerto Penasco, Mexico marked the 14th annual Circus Mexicus Festival, and it was a circus indeed that rolled into Rocky Point as legions of faithful Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and The Refreshments buffs converged on the small town.

The dilapidated outskirts of Puerto Penasco show the second-world reality of the country, but tourists would be none the wiser if they stuck to the towering skyline and lush golf courses of the Sandy Beach resorts, where a cluster of lavish beachfront properties consume the area and offer guests a peaceful escape from reality. That's where you'll find Cirus Mexicus, for the most part.

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All photos by Jim Louvau

Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson
Masters of Madness Tour, Tucson
June 7, 2013

Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson blew the Amphitheater roof off last night as they paid a visit to Tucson for the shock rock extravaganza dubbed The Masters of Madness Tour. Fans of all ages packed the house for the freak fest to see the two most prominent figures in the genre. The show also served as an educational piece for fans of Manson, who may not be familiar with Cooper and how influential he's been on their Anti-Christ Superstar over the years.

The night began with an impressive opening set by the female-fronted Picture Me Broken, featuring Brooklyn Allman--who also happens to be the daughter of The Allman Brother's Greg. The girl showed off some serious vocal chops when the band closed their short set with a cover of Heart's "Crazy On You."

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All photos by Jonathan Alvira

By Jonathan Alvira

Trinidad James
Celebrity Theatre
June 8, 2013

Groupies, strippers and first-time stage dancers were "turnt" up all night with Mr. "All Gold Everything" himself. As I watched a blonde bombshell from the crowd get pulled on stage to shake her ass for the screaming fans, I came to a realization. You truly cannot judge a trendy rapper by the holes in his skirt.

The young Trinidadian sensation Trinidad James stepped on stage an hour late for an already restless crowd at the Celebrity Theatre. When the crowd heard his voice over the microphone, boos turned to cheers. "Popped a molly, I'm sweatin'!" he shouted, signaling his DJ from backstage. Leading up to his dramatic entrance, he walked up the dark, narrow ramp towards the stage with traditional Caribbean music in the background as the fans screamed his name.

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Melissa Fossum

Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons (See the complete slideshow here)
Desert Sky Pavilion
June 5, 2013

Love 'em or hate 'em, Mumford and Sons' popularity continues to grow. Last night's sold-out show at Desert Sky Pavilion puts the band in a league with some of the Valley's other huge indie shows from previous years--but was Mumford and Sons nearly as good as Radiohead or Arcade Fire?

Desert Sky Pavilion was quite the different scene from the band performing in a Tempe parking lot with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and Old Crow Medicine Show for the Railroad Revival Tour. I hear the set-up was a bit of a mess, but it seems like most issues were sorted out last night (aside from parking, anyway).

Some guests reported waiting up to three hours to find a parking spot; I overheard security panicking about fans moving cones and creating spots of their own. The vibe inside Desert Sky Pavilion was quite different. The dapper indie crowd filled the lawn section almost immediately and lounged on chairs and beach blankets to enjoy the sounds on a day that was a little too hot.

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All photos by Melissa Fossum

By Eric Ruchensky
Ceremony
Rhythm Room
June 4, 2013

For indie-rock-loving dudes who required something harder-edged than the Generationals show at the Crescent on Tuesday night, Stateside brought four -- two local, two touring -- hardcore heavyweight bands to Phoenix's premier juke joint, The Rhythm Room.

Veteran locals Move Forward kicked off the proceedings, with frontman Brent Duncan saying they'd rocked so hard during their first rave-up that the stage had actually moved. Their set consisted of fairly straight-ahead four-chord hardcore punk, with occasional lead guitar flourishes. It was enough to rouse the mostly still, heavily male crowd into a loose, messy mosh pit for their last few songs.

Next, hometown hardcore heroes Gay Kiss brought their fierce, brooding sound to the stage.

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