THE MUSIC

Some of the best bands in Arizona are preforming LIVE!
NEW LOCATION Craftsman Court , 4209 N. Craftsman Ct. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - click for map

Please join us for our LIVE concert events courtesy of The Edge 103.9. For more info on upcoming bands please check out the EDGE Website.

November 20th, 2008

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: Marcy Playground

Named for the formative location in lead singer John Wozniak's childhood, the Marcy Open grade school in Minneapolis, Marcy Playground emerged in the late 1990s. They had been influenced heavily by Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana. The influence is quite clear on Marcy Playground's self-titled album, with songs like Shadow of Seattle and Saint Joe On The School Bus. Wozniak's first effort, Zog BogBean - From the Marcy Playground, was self-produced, recorded in his bedroom studio with some help from his then-girlfriend Sherry Fraser and her brother Scott in the early nineties. A small run of CDs were self-released by Wozniak, and to this day they remain extremely difficult to find. After attending the Evergreen State College for two years, Wozniak moved east to New York, where Marcy Playground began to coalesce around the songs that would become the self-titled album. Bassist Dylan Keefe and drummer Dan Rieser filled out the band's sound, and complemented Wozniak's songwriting. The self-titled album was released in 1997, and Marcy Playground emerged into the mainstream with the success of the single "Sex and Candy." Marcy Playground is quiet and minimalist in tone. Wozniak's songs run in many different styles: some are modern folk music; many have undertones reminiscent of children's songs; the blurred sound of psychedelia makes appearances; and then there are the songs with a clear rock sound. The only band member who contributed to all of the album was Wozniak himself; several others filled in for Rieser and Keefe on some of the songs, notably Jared Kotler (bass and drums).

October 16th 2008:

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: INNERPARTYSYSTEM

Before singer Patrick Nissley and drummer Jared Piccone started the group outfit Innerpartysystem, both of them were in Reading, creating the emo band Thirteen Over Eight. Piccone joined in 2000, a few years after their inception. Though the group enjoyed a nice local response, things didn't take off until the two started the electronic-inspired The Takeover, which later changed into Innerpartysystem. Kris Barman creates beats, plays guitar and synth and Jesse Cronan is on keyboard. The band signed to Stolen Transmission (headed by Sarah Lewitinn, credited for helping bands like My Chemical Romance and The Killers reach mainstream charts) in May 2007. "Heart of Fire" was played during the 2007 MTV VMAs in September just before the band released The Download EP a couple of months later.

September 18th 2008:

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: THE ATARIS

Formed in 1995, the band originally consisted of singer/songwriter/guitarist Kristopher Roe and guitarist Jasin Thomason. Using a 4-track, they wrote and recorded demos in Kris' bedroom, using a drum machine while they searched for a full-time drummer. The band's first big break came in 1996 when Kris attended a show at the club Bogart's in Cincinnati, where he passed one of the band's demo tapes to a roadie from the band. The roadie gave the tape to Joe Escalante, bassist from the band The Vandals who owned their own label, Kung Fu Records. A few weeks later, Kris received a call from Kung Fu Records, who told him they were interested in putting out their record, even though he was really only searching for a drummer. The Ataris signed to Kung Fu and the label passed the tape along to various drummers. Eventually Kris decided upon ex-Lagwagon drummer Derrick Plourde. The band then proceeded to record their debut album Anywhere but Here, tracking the whole thing in less than a week. The album was released on April 29, 1997 and the band held a release show party at Missing Link Records in Indianapolis on May 2nd.
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT:Friday Night Gun Fight

August 21st 2008:

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT:Carolina Liar

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
Not many new bands get compared to classic artists like The Clash, The Smiths and The Cure, after only releasing a 3 song EP. But the Airborne Toxic Event is slowly rising to a secure position next to groundbreaking groups like Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire and Franz Ferdinand.Incorporating the viola, organ, guitars and trumpet, this 5-piece LA band produces a sound the LA Times describes as “Poetry you can dance to”. And LA Weekly says they’re “Absurdly rich with talent…Live, the group delivers total cohesion and unflappable energy.”

OPENING ACT: What Laura Says Thinks And Feels

July 17th, 2008

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: Carolina Liar
In his day-to-day dealings with members of LA's music community, there are two things singer Chad Wolf has heard repeatedly. One involves praise for his songwriting skills, which seem to effortlessly tow the line between infectious, delectable pop and a deeper, darker rock discourse. The other: disbelief. How did your classic struggling musician, who toiled away at coffeehouse gigs for most of his adult life, end up on the receiving end of a deal with a major label? The story may seem far-fetched, some might even say too good to be true, but somewhere between accolades and accusations is honesty, which, ironically, is what Carolina Liar is all about.

OPENING ACT: The Daily Summer

June 19th, 2008

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: Alien Ant Farm
Alien Ant Farm is an American alternative metal band that formed in the southern California city of Riverside in 1995. Their name comes from an idea guitarist Terry Corso had about aliens and the earth -- "I was daydreaming at my dull desk job with my feet up, and I thought to myself, 'Wouldn't it be cool if the human species were placed on earth and cultivated by alien intelligence?' Maybe the aliens added us to an atmosphere that was suitable for us, and they've been watching us develop and colonize, kind of like what a kid does with an ant farm"

OPENING ACT: The Hypo Twins
This is it, this is the last chance to dance. This is the last chance to save rock and roll. The Hypo Twins bring their debut record, "it's showtime", to do just that. Due out in November of 2008 on American Voodoo Records, "it's showtime" will save a dwindling genre, holding lineage with rock greats. And for The Hypo Twins, look no further, because this is it.

May 15th, 2008

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: LUDO
Ludo gets their name from the film Labyrinth. It started as a duo of lead vocalist and guitarist Andrew Volpe and guitarist Tim Ferrell, but expanded to a five-piece group with Tim Convy on moog, bassist Marshall Fanciullo and drummer Matt Palermo. Ludo recorded their first record, Ludo, and released it on their own indie label, Redbird Records. Several of these songs were taken from Andrew Volpe's former band, Karate Lunchbox. After extensive touring and moderate indie success, Ludo again entered the studio in 2005. The result was the EP Broken Bride, a rock opera about a man who spends fifteen years building a time machine to save his wife who died in 1989. In recent years, Ludo has been putting on themed, often holiday themed, concerts. These include HalLUDOween, A Very Ludo Christmas, and Cinco de Mustache. Their fun outlook and interactive shows gained the attention of major labels Capitol Records and Island Records.

OPENING ACT: CAPTAIN SQUEEGEE AND THE SOAP SUDS

April 17th, 2008

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: MGMT
Goldwasser and VanWyngarden formed the band while attending Wesleyan University during their freshman year in December 2002. "We weren't trying to start a band," remarked Goldwasser. "We were just hanging out, showing each other music that we liked." They experimented with noise rock and electronica before settling on what David Marchese of Spin magazine calls "their current brand of shape-shifting psychedelic pop."[5] They graduated in 2005 and toured extensively in support of the Time To Pretend EP, opening for Athens, Georgia indie-rock band Of Montreal. In the fall of 2006, while serving as Senior Vice President of A&R, Steve Lillywhite signed MGMT to a six-figure, four album deal with Sony/Columbia Records. The duo recorded with Flaming Lips music producer Dave Fridmann in 2007 for their major label debut, Oracular Spectacular.[9] MGMT, now a five-piece live touring band, opened for Of Montreal on tour in fall 2007. MGMT performed the song "Time to Pretend" on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 8, 2008. The song subsequently hit #38 on the Mediabase US Alternative chart. This song also opened the 2008 film, 21, about the MIT Blackjack Team.

March 20th, 2008

Here is whats up next on March 20th 2008:
FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: The Presidents of the United States of America
With the self titled album release in 1995, The Presidents of the United States of America have been holding office in music for more than a decade. With the formation in 1993 by Chris Ballew, who is lead vocals and guitar, and with the help of Dave Dederer on bass and backup vocals, the dynamic duo began. After doing a few gigs the addition of Jason Finn on drums was done, completing the band. The bands popularity skyrocketed in 1995 with their release of “Lump”. Other popular songs to reach top ten charts of 1995 include “Kitty” and “Peaches” furthering the demand for The Presidents of the United States of America. They toured the globe from 1995 to 1997 visiting countries from Europe to Japan. After a short break from 1998 to 2000 the band reformed and released several albums including “Freaked Out and Small”. In 2004, Andrew McKeag, who does vocals and bass, was added to the band and the album “Love Everybody” was released. Now in 2008 the album “These are the Good Times People” was released on March 11 which will be followed shortly by a tour all over the States and United Kingdom and kicks off at Third Thursday at Tempe Marketplace!

February 21st, 2008

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: Armor For Sleep
The band Armor for Sleep formed in northern New Jersey in 2002 with the ambitions of lead singer Ben Jorgensen and Anthony Dilonno, soon joined by PJ DeCicco and Nash Breen. With the release of the song, Dream to Make Believe, they gained mass attention from fans that were passing them up as an “Emo” band. From there it just kept getting better and better for the New Jersey Foursome. The band was signed to Warner Brothers in 2005 with the release of What to do When You are Dead, which sold over 220,000 records to date. With such a growing fan base and an excellent record label backing them they are on tour taking the band to new heights, or as Jorgensen says, "challenging ourselves more than we ever had."

FEATURED NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT: The Summer Set
The Summer Set, a band originating in Arizona in 2007, has been surprising record labels and fans alike with their remarkable take on pop rock. With Brian Dale on vocals, Steven Gomes on bass, John Gomes on guitar and vocals, Dillon Morris on Guitar, and Jess Bowen on Drums; they bring a new meaning to alternative music. However, their eyes are set for the future with a huge summer tour as well as re-releasing classics including Friday I’m in Love. Their first record Love the Love you Have, released in November of 2007 can be found at Smartpunk.com.

ROGUE WAVE

Rogue Wave is an indie rock band from Oakland, California headed by Zach Schwartz (aka - Zach Rogue) who created the band after losing it all in the dot-com bust.  Their 3rd and newest album "Asleep at Heaven's Gate" was released in September of 2007. Rogue Wave is featured on the Stubbs: The Zombie Soundtrack performing a cover of Buddy Holly's 'Everyday'.  They appeared on the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack with 'Every Moment'.  In addition, the song 'Eyes' was featured in the Ryan Reynolds film 'Just Friends' and in two episodes of the NBC drama 'Heroes'  along with an episode of Friday Night Lights.  Most recently, the song Lake Michigan was used in an ad for Microsoft's MP3 player Zune in addition to being featured on The Edge 103.9's Alternative Edge-ucation!ROGUE WAVE

SHAWN JOHNSON AND THE FOUNDATION

People are starting to really pay attention to this band that plays over 120 shows per year. Whether they are playing at home in Phoenix, AZ or somewhere on the road, the crowds are growing larger and larger. Shawn Johnson and the Foundation has won four awards in as many years: Arizona's Infusion of Music Award 2002, Winner of Jillian's Battle of the Bands for Phoenix 2004, and most notably, Best Jam Band Of AZ by the AZ Infusion of Music Awards 2005 and just recently "Best Acoustic Act" 2006 by the Phoenix New Times. You never know when you are going to go see a national act, and SJF is the opener. SJF has gotten fans to their feet opening for O.A.R., The Fray, Rusted Root, Los Lobos, David Crosby, Cake, Pat McGee Band, Everclear, Little Feat, The Southland, Joe Bonamassa, The Samples, The Phunk Junkies, Cowboy Mouth, and The Format, among others. Yes, the vibe is catching on.

Check Out Their Website Here
OH IT’S ON! AND WE’RE EXCITED!! Check back and scope the bands that are coming up soon...

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