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Lady Gaga not playing any love games with Arizona immigration law
08.03.10
At the Arizona leg of The Monster Ball Tour, Lady Gaga went out of her way to take on the now infamous law SB1070 in a protest speech. In her speech, which lasted around five-minutes, Gaga pushed peaceful opposition to the bill, and said “The nature of the Monster Ball is to actively protest prejudice and injustice and that bullshit that is put on our society.” She went on to say that “Without all of you immigrants this country wouldn’t have shit.” Calling everyone in the audience a superstar, Gaga also tried to boost self-esteem and asked kids to leave the show not loving her more, but loving themselves more. Cleary unafraid of a little industry hate, she took a little shot at musicians boycotting the state as well, saying that when asked to join their movement she responded “You really thing that us dumb fucking popstars are going to collapse the economy of Arizona?” Whether or not you like her music, at least she speaks her mind.

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Rage Against the Machine, Conor Oberst Play Arizona Protest Show
07.15.10
Two of the most influential artists involved in The Sound Strike organization have decided to turn their protest of Arizona into opportunity for music fans in Hollywood by playing a benefit show. Rage Against the Machine will be performing in concert at L.A.’s Hollywood Palladium on July 23rd and Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band will take the opening slot. Two nonprofits who have been working to fight the Arizona immigration law, PUENTE ARIZONA and The Florence Project, will be given proceeds from the event. Since we last reported on Sound Strike and Conor Oberst’s open letter to its opponents, a movement of Arizona musicians called Artists for Action has formed which tries instead to encourage bands to voice their opposition by playing shows in the state. Since this counter group includes the likes of Jimmy Eat World and Calexico, it may not be such a bad concert year for Arizona after all.

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Conor Oberst Starts Friendly War of Words Over Arizona Boycott
07.02.10
A while back we told you that frontman for Bright Eyes Conor Oberst had joined The Sound Strike movement of musicians boycotting Arizona for their immigration law. Since then, Arizona concert promoter Charlie Levy wrote an open letter asking artists not to boycott saying that they’re hurting those who foster free speech within the state. Well Oberst has already taken the initiative to send ‘Charlie’ a reply, in which he essentially says he “regrets any of the collateral damage” the boycott is causing Arizona’s music industry and fans… but tough luck. Saying he doesn’t feel other pressure tactics will work, Oberst writes, “What I can do is to help organize, and play my small part in, what I hope is the largest and most effective boycott this country has seen in a long time.” The entire, very passionate letter is available on Billboard.

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Bright Eyes Join the Arizona Picket Line
06.24.10
It’s going to be a rough year for Arizona music fans. The Sound Strike, a coalition of artists who are essentially boycotting the state, has just recruited Bright Eyes to the movement. In a new online clip, Bright Eyes vocalist Conor Oberst discusses the state’s controversial bill while on set of the music video for Coyote Song, a track that will only be available on The Sound Strike site. “The law takes everything to just a new low,” Oberst says. “When I first read about it I just felt like something immediately had to be done.” Other new additions to the two dozen or so artists involved with The Sound Strike include Cypress Hill, Tenacious D, Joe Satriani and Rise Against. Check out their website for the complete list.

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Chuck D Tearing Arizona a New One
06.22.10
You know that immigration law Arizona passed you thought was horrible and racist? Yeah, well so did Public Enemy’s Chuck D. The rapper’s new track Tear Down That Wall takes the immigration law head on spitting “Scarred by sarcasm, Uncle Sam’s racist orgasm, was just a spasm, scared of enthusiasm / Of the black and brown planet, the jealous say damn it, stupid ass wall, can’t stop us all.” A couple of Nazi comparisons later and you’ve got yourself a pretty scathing review of the Grand Canyon State. Not the MC’s first either as in 1991 Public Enemy released By the Time I Get to Arizona, a criticism of the state non-recognition of Martin Luther King Day. A Chuck D solo album, Mistachuck: Don’t Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin should be released soon, along with the new, publically-funded Public Enemy record.

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Zack de la Rocha Recruits Musicians for Immigration Law Protest
05.26.10
Rage Against the Machine’s mouth piece Zack de la Rocha has recruited the likes of some fairly high profile artists to combat the Arizona immigration law which “would make the failure to carry immigration documents a crime and give the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally”. The name of de la Rocha’s protest? The Sound Strike. The artists involved? Kanye West, Sonic Youth, Conor Oberst, Massive Attack, Spank Rock, One Day as a Lion, Street Sweeper Social Club, Rage Against the Machine and more. The concept? Boycott the entire state of Arizona and declare it a no play zone… Till this whole law ordeal is sorted out of course. Over on the official Sound Strike site Zack posted a message reading “Fans of our music, our stories, our films and our words can be pulled over and harassed every day because they are brown or black, or for the way they speak, or for the music they listen to. People who are poor like some of us used to be could be forced to live in a constant state of fear while just doing what they can to find work and survive. This law opens the door for them to be shaked down, or even worse, detained and deported while just trying to travel home from school, from home to work, or when they just roll out with their friends.” Comparing the concept of the protest to Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, the angsty frontman explained, “We are not going to play in Arizona. We are going to boycott Arizona?!” If you’d like to help the boys make a dent in this matter, head over to The Sound Strike site for a complete explanation as well as petition against the law.

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Alleged Mushroom Possession Detains King Khan & BBQ Show
11.17.09
St. Louis, Missouri and Lawrence, Kansas fans of The King Khan & BBQ Show might be holding a grudge against the Kentucky law enforcement officers that nabbed Arish “King” Khan and tour manager Kristin Klein for allegedly being in possession of hallucinogenic shrooms. The shows in Missouri and Kansas were cancelled, as was a date in Phoenix, Arizona. Those planning to catch shows on the West Coast will be happy to hear that things are back on track, and all remaining shows are going ahead as planned. A statement was issued, explaining the situation. Thankfully it isn’t just a Twitter update. (more…)
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Kanye West/Lady Gaga Tour Axed
10.01.09
Slated to kick off November 10th in Phoenix, Arizona, the Fame Kills tour set to feature Kanye West and Lady Gaga has been cancelled. Live Nation, the tour’s promoter, didn’t give a reason for the cancellation, however as of late poor ticket sales leave one wondering if West’s recent travels through asshole-land have played a role in the low projected attendance. The pre-sale announcement for certain shows even hit the public just two days after Kanye’s “incredibly mature” attack on pop sensation Taylor Swift, proof to a possibility that fans may have let ol’West off the hook one too many times. Psst Kanye… When you act like a lower life form on national television, some people may catch a glimpse of it and not support you on say… oh I don’t know… an upcoming tour perhaps. Hm… I guess fame does kill.
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Maynard James Keenan and His Precious Bottles of Wine
06.13.09
Well known front man Maynard James Keenan, of Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer fame, is set to be the star of an upcoming documentary entitled Blood Into Wine: The Arizona Stronghold. The doc, set to make a theatrical debut circa February/March 2010, outlines the story of Keenan and wine making partner Eric Glomski’s growth to fruitful success following the erection of their vineyard in the Wild West ghost town of Arizona’s Verde Valley. Since its inception in the mid-90s the rock icon’s Caduceus Cellars winery has been thriving with no plateau in site, with Keenan often organizing bottle signings and consistently treating the wine making process as an art. “It’s like writing a song, you just want to let the sounds happen in the room and go with it. Whatever Arizona on this particular spot on the globe wants to offer up for flavors, that’s what we’re going to do. We let the grape speak for itself.” What could be sweeter than rock star wine… nothing I tell you… nothing.
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Drugs, Fraud And Animal Cruelty Have Made DMX A Preacher
05.15.09
38 year old Earl Simmons better known as DMX, was released from an Arizona jail following a 90 day lock up for drugs, fraud and animal cruelty. DMX announced his plans to create Christian Television show upon his release, and now that he’s foot loose and fancy free it looks like he’s sticking to his guns claiming, “I’m gonna start a TV show called ‘Pain and Perseverance’, it’s about how I can reach people that the average person can’t reach because I’m grounded. I’m going to give my first sermon, in the church. That’s going to be incredible for me and hopefully the congregation of that church.” DMX is also set to join the cast of Celebrity Rehab which will be celebrating its third season on the air. Wow… The prison system has come a long way… 90 days and poof… reformed.
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Calexico – Tonight @ Le National
11.17.08
Arizona outfit Calexico rides into town bringing their emotive groove to Le National tonight.

With special guest: Cuff the Duke
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