Turnover

When I was in my twenties, I was a sucker for the melancholy pop song or the over dramatic "emo" bands like Saves the Day, MxPx, The Starting Line, and New Found Glory.  With all of these bands, there is something to their sound which is very specific to a certain time period.  For example, every time I listen to Saves the Day's "Stay What You Are" album, I get this rush of emotion which is similar to what I was feeling at the time when I first heard the album in 2001.  There is nothing relevant within the songs on "Stay What You Are".  They have become time capsules which catapult me into thinking how much of an emotional person I was when I was 22 years old.  This conflict of relevance convinces me that the album's songs have not aged well and have not forced me to think differently from what I thought the initial time I heard it.

RIP Davey Alison

Rest in peace Davey Alison.  I only really knew you as a little kid on my cul-de-sac while I was in High School and College but my heart breaks to hear of your passing.  I can only think of your little smiling face as you ran up and down the lawn of your front yard.  As you rode your bike off ramps and as you rode by my house in the passenger seat of your parents' car, I will always remember you and those big brown eyes and that wide smile.

Until our paths cross again my friend, I can only hope the 2nd time around will be as wonderful as the first....

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

DJentrification - Phoenix's Great Ambassador of Good Vibes

DJentrification is the most eclectic and unique DJ in the Phoenix area.  We are so lucky to be able to see this dude's shows on a regular basis.  Spread the love!

Playboy Manbaby - Live @ Crescent Ballroom

Playboy Manbaby - Everybody Gets Pizza

If you live in the Tempe/Phoenix area I highly recommend checking out Playboy Manbaby.  I have seen them at least 6 times in the past year and their shows are a stimulating blend of energy and up-tempo-unpredictability.  I wasn't in attendance but there was a show they played last October at the Trunk Space where they dressed up as "Pizza Chefs" and handed out pizza to the crowd as they were performing their set.  (Click here to see.)  The images of the show reflect a strange mix of "Pizza Chefs", punk rock, and a raucous bunch of fans packed into a small room in downtown Phoenix.  In other words, it looks like a blast!

With all of that said, the energy and craziness of their shows is matched by a solid repertoire of sing-a-long punk songs which is always engaging.  Their music is especially refreshing given the history of bands trying to overcompensate with wild stage antics to make up for their lack of well crafted songs.  I assure you, this is not the case with Playboy Manbaby.  Their music stands on its own and resonates.  Much like the perfect greasy Cheeseburger, savory serving of Mac 'N Cheese, or maybe like that perfect slice of pizza.  If Minor Threat or Alkaline Trio represent a militant commitment to Veganism or Vegetarianism, maybe Playboy Manbaby represents the alternative and is punk rock's version of easygoing comfort food?

Here is a sold out show they played at the great Valley Bar in downtown Phoenix on 08/21/2015.

The Closest Thing To Perfection

I grew up in Temple Terrace. A suburb of Tampa, Florida. My childhood was wonderful. I had loving parents. A big brother who always kept me on my toes. A yellow lab named Charlie who was always by my side. I loved baseball. I loved the Chicago Cubs. I would run home from Elementary School to try and catch the first pitch of a Cubs day game which was always on TV. I loved Harry Caray. I would tape every game that I could on VHS. I liked watching the games constantly. I liked keeping score. Wrigley Field on VHS was magical and all I wanted was more of it. I wore a perfectly fitted Chicago Cubs baseball cap almost every single day from 1989 to 1990. Baseball and the Chicago Cubs were my first true love.

Todd Terje - Delorean Dynamite

Elbow - New York Morning

The Men - Tomorrow's Hits

Had the fortune of discovering a band from Brooklyn, NY named The Men.  Their latest album "Tomorrow's Hits" is one of the better throwback Rock and Roll albums I have heard.  Tomorrow's Hits has that great organic, raw feel to it which old school rock albums always seemed to possess.  Those "old school" albums always seemed to have that special something in which we were never quite able to properly identify but we knew it was there and we knew it was good.  That thing that we couldn't describe....this album has it!