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

Nicole Laurenne likes a challenge. Not only does she juggle life as a judge and the Farfisa-shredding frontwoman of The Love Me Nots, but she beat breast cancer.

So while the idea of putting your rock 'n' roll band on hiatus to explore synth-ier, poppier territory might scare lesser folk, it's no big deal for Laurenne, who's pretty dang excited about Zero Zero, her new project. It finds the guitar-based approach of The Love Me Nots turned on its head, mixing sexy beats and downtempo grooves.

Laurenne joins us to speak about the project, and we have a listen to tunes from The Cigs, Stephen Steinbrink, The Sh!t, and more in this week's episode of Up on the Sun: The Podcast.

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Emily Berger

A Place to Bury Strangers

"Loud" is the most common description of A Place to Bury Strangers, the New York-based trio of Robi Gonzalez (drums), Oliver Ackermann (guitar/vocals), and Dion Lunadon (bass guitar). But loud is only part of it, as Worship, the band's expansive new album (due out June 26 on Dead Oceans) demonstrates. The band's patented, distortion-drenched approach is still intact on songs like "Alone," but they explore pop melodies with "And I'm Up," and intense atmosphere with "Dissolved."

The record is the first to feature the New Zealand-born Lunadon, whose background in garage and punk bands benefits the propulsive disc. We speak with him in this episode of Up on the Sun: The Podcast, and listen to charming indie pop from DINERS, minimalist hip-hop/soul from G. Owens, and thunderous rock from Torche.

Enjoy.

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Isaiah Toothtaker

See also: Up on the Sun: The Podcast, featuring Mitch Freedoms Soul Jam Selections

Welcome to another episode of Up on the Sun's weekly podcast.

This week we're joined by Tucson MC/tattooist/director Isaiah Toothtaker. We've featured a couple of videos from his upcoming EP with incarcerated rapper Max B (formerly of Dipset), called Toothy Wavy -- and music is just as interesting and compelling as the visuals.

It's out via Мишка Records on Tuesday, May 15, and Toothtaker was excite to discuss the collaboration. While we're at it, we'll take a listen to DJ Smite's (a.k.a. Sir Smeezy) all-vinyl tribute to the Beasties, recorded last week at Lost Leaf, a track from Desert Vibrations, and a slice of Americana/black metal from Relapse recording artists Horseback.

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Eddie Kendricks, featured in this week's episode of Up on the Sun: The Podcast

See also: Wooden Indian, Amen Dunes, and Entrance Band at Chasers

I'll admit it. I screwed up. I went out to Chasers to catch Wooden Indian, Amen Dunes, and Entrance Band, and while I was out, I planned to interview Mitch Freedom of Wooden Indian and indie-soul collective What Laura Says about the soul tracks he's generously selected for the sixth episode of Up on the Sun's weekly podcast.

But about one minute into his eloquent and interesting explanation of why he sent over these particular gems, I heard a familiar beep from my recorder. Protesting the lack of battery power, the stupid thing died, and I lost his quotes.

Luckily, technology allowed us to connect at a later date, and Mitch was able to relay his thoughts to me via telephone. So enjoy -- here are some of Mitch Freedom's favorite soul jams, and a few of my own.

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Amen Dunes

Sorry about that! Up on the Sun: The Podcast took an unexpected break over the past two weeks to deal with some family matters and take a sweaty trip out to Coachella. (Best show I saw? Wild freaking Flag.) But we're back in full force, bringing you UOTS: The Podcast episode five, featuring Damon McMahon, best know for his haunting, spectral Amen Dunes records.

He'll be in town on Tuesday, May 1, at Chasers in Scottsdale, and in advance of his show we spoke about the pop elements of his freaky psych, and the chanting quality of his lyrics. Stand by for our full interview with him on Monday.

Also, we pay tribute to Mr. Levon Helm, legendary drummer, songwriter, and vocalist. He passed away on April 19, and rather than mourn the loss, I thought I'd spin a few of his more joyful tracks (okay, I couldn't help but spin one sad one).

Enjoy.

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Treasure Mammal, featured in This Week's Issue

See also: Up on the Sun: The Podcast, Episode 3, with Ron Livingston, Isaac Brock, Wanda Jackson, and More

"I wanted something with a lot of textures and songs [that] could take you somewhere new," says Abe Gil of Treasure MammaL in this week's issue.

But reading Gil is one thing. Seeing and hearing him is another. You can do the latter in this week's installment of Up on the Sun: The Podcast, Episode IV.

We also speak with Kimber Lanning of Stinkweeds Records and Local First AZ and listen to her '90s shoegaze band Half String, as well as hear new tunes from Nite Jewel and the fantastic, Dan Auerbach-produced Dr. John record, Locked Down.

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http://www.facebook.com/queensofcountrymovie

Ron Livingston in Queens of Country

In this week's issue of Phoenix New Times, we profiled Queens of Country, a new movie filmed on location in Cave Creek, Arizona, which debuts this weekend at the Phoenix Film Festival.

In this episode UOTS: The Podcast, we speak with Ron Livingston (Office Space), who stars opposite of Lizzy Caplan (Party Down, Hot Tub Time Machine) in the film, and we listen to exclusive clips from the film's score by Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse, Ugly Casanova), and some country classics from the score, as well as tunes from the new Lee Hazlewood retrospective on Light in the Attic Records, tunes from North Dakota, No Age, and more.

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Welcome to Up on the Sun: The Podcast's second episode.

In this week's installment, we speak with Phoenix-based metal band Landmine Marathon about being handpicked by Metallica to play the Orion Music and More Festival in New Jersey, and hear a brand new tune from the band's upcoming EP "Bastard Child."

We also listen to tunes from rockers Hot Snakes, hardcore legends Bad Brains, a country classic from Kris Kristofferson, spacey hip-hop soul from THEESatisfaction, string-laden soul from Lee Fields and the Expressions, and a power-pop rocker from Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo (listen for those Nels Cline-guitar bits, too).

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Howe Gelb of Giant Giant Sand

Welcome to the first episode of Up on the Sun's new weekly podcast, Up on the Sun: The Podcast.

In this week's episode, we speak with Detroit MC and producer Black Milk about his collaborations with Danny Brown, and the "Detroit sound." We also speak with Howe Gelb of Giant Sand, about his new record Tucson, and why he's calling the band Giant "Giant" Sand these days.

We also listen to tunes from Hooves and Pickster One and Riot Earp.

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​KWSS's The Morning Infidelity ran a funny segment on Frankie Muniz's publicist/girlfriend, Elycia Marie, earlier this week.

Now, of course my own tangle with Elycia is well documented, but I'm not the only Phoenix media type who has run afoul of Ms. Marie. KWSS DJ Tatty Talia has her own tale of woe stemming from a blog comment in which she questioned how people would perceive Frankie's band, You Hang Up (which sent out a press release announcing Frankie had joined before ever practicing with him or hearing him play in person), in the local music scene were it not for his waning starpower.

Like others who dissed the former Malcolm in the Middle star on the interwebs, Talia found herself the target of anonymous comments calling her fat and digging into her personal life.

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