Over the Weekend

By: Jonathan McNamara

Wow! And I thought SXSW was music-packed. This weekend music fans had no trouble finding ear candy. Friday brought us aural stimulation in the form of Tempe Music Festival. While a host of local bands played on the emerging artist stage, My Chemical Romance brought the house down for Hot Topic shoppers everywhere.

Also appearing Friday night (and making Muddy Waters spin in his grave) was the ever-invasive blues rock duo The Black Keys. They tore things up at The Marquee Theater despite would-be opening band Jay-Retard bowing out due to an illness.

Saturday was round two for Tempe Music Fest. and long-time Phoenicians couldn't have been happier. Hometown heroes The Meat Puppets and The Gin Blossoms played the same stage before turning things over to Fergie to finish the night. Also of note is a slamming performance by the recently reformed Eve 6.

For those who found their music sensors over-stimulated there was salvation not 100 yards from the festival in the form of the Tempe Dragon Boat Festival.