Blogs

Music Columnist Steve Jansen has this to say about the ear candy produced by Black Carl in his latest Noise Boy: "Not only is it funky, it's fun as hell." The five member band from Tempe blends R&B aesthetics with danceable beats and enough fuzzy bass to make any P-Funk All Star smile. But let's dispense with the written description and let you listen for yourself. Ya dig?

Check out Black Carl's song Chemistry.
*Don't forget to right click to save and trade this podcast!

Black Carl will be playing several shows in the next few weeks including Phoenix Film Festival and Modified Arts this weekend. For more show dates , check out the band's myspace.

By Benjamin Leatherman

The doods at MySpace have an offer for Valley punk fans that they can’t refuse. The SoCal skate punk superstars of Pennywise will perform at a special “MySpace Secret Show” tonight at the Clubhouse Music Venue, 1320 E. Broadway Rd. in Tempe. Admission is absolutely free, but you’ll have to jump through a few hoops to get in.

Here are the details on how it works (courtesy of the Luckyman web site):

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GET INTO THE SHOW: You will need a wristband to get into the show. Wristbands will be available for pick up at Zia Record Exchange’s Tempe location between 5:00 and 7:00 P.M. on the day of the show.

Zia’s Record Exchange is located at
105 W. University Drive.
The telephone number there is (480) 829-6898.

Also, wristbands will be available at the club at the normal door times. However, THIS SHOW IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, Lineup begins at 3pm, anyone lining up before 3pm will be asked to leave the premises.

Doors for the gig open at 7 p.m. and The Darlings will open the show. Better get it line.

By: Jonathan McNamara

Green food coloring and clover do not a happy St. Patty's Day make. It takes proper Irish food, proper Irish brew and of course proper Irish music. Enter our friends Flogging Molly who will be paying Phoenix a visit this March 16-17 at Tempe Town Lake.

Haven't heard of Flogging Molly? Give the Irish Folk sensation a listen below.

Show details:
March 16
The Marquee Theater
730 North Mill Avenue
Doors at 7:00 p.m.
All ages
Also appearing: The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and The Cherry Cokes
Tickets and info courtesy of Lucky Man concerts

March 17
Tempe Town Lake
54 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Doors at 5:00 p.m.
21 and up.
Also appearing: The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and The Cherry Cokes
Tickets and info courtesy of Lucky Man concerts

By: Benjamin Leatherman

After an extended leave of absence, Future Shock returns to give y’all the lowdown on some of the biggest “just announced” concerts coming to the Valley. Speaking of comebacks, yo, a few of the biggest and most influential musicians in the world are gonna be making a return to P-Town’s stages in the coming months. Plus, we just got word that a pair of much-lauded tunesters who just took home some Oscar gold are also headed our way.

Here are all the deets:

The Cure
With opening act 65daysofstatic
Wednesday, June 4, at 7 p.m.
Dodge Theatre in Phoenix
Tickets are $37 to $57 (on sale Friday, visit www.livenation.com)

It’s been a few years since Robert Smith rocked our world, so we’re pretty jazzed that the mopey maestro and his crew are visiting the Dodge in support of their currently-untitled 13th album, which drops in May. Better get your tickets now, as the show is likely to sell out.

Random fact: The Cure formed in 1973 and was originally known as The Obelisk.

Read on for more SHOCK.

How you probably prepare for Saint Patty’s Day:

• Get some arm weights to build up your lager lifting biceps


• Pick fights with “little people” in anticipation of the leprechaun toss


• Practice falling down without spilling your beer.

How do the Dropkick Murphys prepare for Saint Patty’s Day?

Try two weeks of warm-up shows.

They’ll be in home sweet home Boston come shamrock shenanigans time, but Phoenix fans can get their dose of Dropkick when they play Marquee Theater on Monday.

Need more Murphys? Check out an expanded version of their last album The Meanest of Times out on March 11. Along with a generous smattering of bonus cuts, there’s a DVD that includes a live concert recorded last St. Patty’s Day and a documentary on how their recording of “Tessie” broke the Boston Red Sox curse and carried them to victory. Also mentioned is the fact that “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” was featured in The Departed, the movie that broke director Martin Scorcese’s string of Academy Award losses.

Read on for an interview with Dropkick Murphys singer Al Barr.