http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=107 Armed with tight vocal harmonies, bluegrass instruments and a heaping dose of righteous anger, The Haymarket Squares are Arizona's premier punkgrass trio. Although they've been together for less than a year, Mark, Marc and John have played more than 40 shows in metro Phoenix, Jerome and Flagstaff. They've developed a loyal following among punks, anarchists, hippies, activists and other thinking folks who appreciate rabble-rousing lyrics wrapped in a catchy melody. Known for long sets and short songs, a typical Haymarket… Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=106 The Bad Cactus Brass Band is a New Orleans-style parade band. Founded in 2009 by trombonist Benjie Messer, their members include many of the fieriest jazz musicians in Phoenix. With tuba, drums, trumpets, saxophones, and trombones, Bad Cactus Brass Band brings funky street beats, second lines and dixieland to street corners, festivals, parties, nightclubs, weddings, funerals- and now the light rail! www.badcactusbrassband.com Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=105 Clinton Switzer, 22 years of age, is a new member of the Phoenix community. Arriving late last summer, Clinton has been working hard playing his guitar and writing new material for Amen Cowboy, his old band from Detroit which he plans to revive here in Phoenix. His sound dwells on his midwest upbringing, with his voice ranging from a timid soft, to a raspy wail trying to tell extraordinary stories of these times. www.myspace.com/amencowboy Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=104 Blaine Long is a singer/songwriter who grew up in Tempe, where he led a band from 1994-2000. After the band broke up he started playing acoustically and recorded three solo albums between 2001-2005. He released a "best of" compilation album called "Ten Miles Wide" and is currently working on new songs for his fifth album, to be released in March 2010. Blaine plays his original songs live several nights a week including every Thursday at the Turf Pub in Phoenix.… Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=103 The Arizona Opera Street Singers are an energetic group of singers who perform opera scenes and arias in untraditional spaces. Taking the art from the stage to the curb. The program allows young performers the opportunity to gain performance experience while Arizona Opera reaches new and diverse audiences. Check out Arizona Opera’s website www.azopera.org to keep track of the whereabouts of the next performance. Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=102 After two decades of musical performance the Black River Bandit is now up in arms, orchestrating a vaudevillian resistance against the America Empire. Weather on the piano or with a symphonic rebellion, the Black River Bandit maintains his revolutionary spirit, making him a foe to some and a hero to many. Visit www.myspace.com/theblackriverbandit Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=101 Playing together for over a year, the Wizards of Time are just now finishing up recording their first full-length recording, titled "Will the Soft Curse Plague On?", which was recorded with Scott Solter of Baucom road. Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=100 Brent Cowles is You Me and Apollo. He is a pastor's son from a small town in Colorado who moved to Arizona to join the collective of River Jones Music. His first EP took the listener through the seperation of a marriage that ended while he was only 19 years old. The newest EP deals with the pains of being a pastor's son who has decided to take a different road than his father's. He has been compared to Conor… Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=99 Born in Tempe Arizona, Multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, has been touring and recording with Neko Case for the last 10 years and tours when possible with the Boxmaster’s featuring Billy Bob Thornton. Jon has recorded four of his own records including Steel Guitar Air Show, Steel Guitar Rodeo, Steel Guitar Heart Attack and Hawaiian Guitar Expedition and also tours as the Jon Rauhouse Sestet featuring Tommy Connell and Rachel Flotard of Visqueen. He has added his talents to over 68 national… Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=98 Armed with tight vocal harmonies, bluegrass instruments and a heaping dose of righteous anger, The Haymarket Squares are Arizona's premier punkgrass trio. Although they've been together for less than a year, Mark, Marc and John have played more than 40 shows in metro Phoenix, Jerome and Flagstaff. They've developed a loyal following among punks, anarchists, hippies, activists and other thinking folks who appreciate rabble-rousing lyrics wrapped in a catchy melody. Known for long sets and short songs, a typical Haymarket… Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=97 Steve McCarty, a multi-platinum recording artist, joined Steve Miller in San Francisco around 1972, as they developed "Fly Like An Eagle" and other hits that lead to over thirty platinum albums for Steve Miller and Steve McCarty. A singer-songwriter, composer and guitar player, he began playing in coffee houses and wrote his first recorded song at twelve years old. He lived and traveled with Steve Miller but longed to get back to his southwest roots, originally from Texas and Santa… Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=96 A proud native of Tempe Arizona, Longo grew up listening to local, Brit, and So-Cal punk rock music, but was always a sucker for a pretty song. He started singing in garage bands in high school and got his first real gig in a band called Jonny Shock, better known as “ZigZag Black” when he was seventeen years old. Longo founded Muddy Violets in 1997, and graced the stage with other local acts like the Sidewinders and Greyhound Soul from… Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=95 The Prizefighting Kangaroos Saxophone Quartet combines the talents of Mary Petrich, Scott Zimmer, Bryon Ruth, and Paul Brewer. They feel equally at home playing Mozart, or fearlessly plunging into the uncharted (pun intended!) territory of their free improvisations. Swingin’ like an old school big band sax section, or searching for new approaches to improvisation, the PFK Saxophone Quartet does it all with joy and dedication. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=93 Tobie Milford is a Phoenix singer-songwriter violinist who grew up playing violin, but whose musical interests expanded beyond classical music during the first year of high school. Tobie taught himself guitar and began to write music and was soon introduced to the likes of Chicago songwriter and violinist Andrew Bird, who inspired Milford to pick up the violin again. Milford's "Alyosha' EP is nearing completion at Surface to Air Studios (recorded and mixed by Cary Miller) in Phoenix. Milford is… Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=91 Brad Perry is not a stranger to the entertainment world- he was an important part of the successful morning show team for ten years. What many people don’t see when Brad is off camera is his blossoming music and entertainment career. The Battle Creek, MI native has always had a passion for music. He has strong Motown influences, due to his parents raising him in close proximity to Detroit, the home of Motown. Brad has developed a sound uniquely his… Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=89 In its prolific body of recorded work, Tierra del Fuego takes disparate pages from the American songbook and mixes them up in the band’s own unique style. Drawing on influences from Bob Wills to Bob Dylan, Tierra del Fuego songs typically feature big steel guitar, three-part harmonies, lyrics expressing amused awe at the ironies of the human condition, and melodies that invite you to sing along. Much as The Pogues reflected traditional Irish music through the edgy prism of the… Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=87 Penning heady tunes with wisdom years beyond her, Sydney began performing in the local Phoenix and LA coffee-shop scene to stellar reviews. Unlike most artists who begin with learning covers of their favorite artists, Sydney chose her own path and wrote original music from day one. Releasing her first acoustic EP in early 2008 (the aptly titled "You Gotta Start Somewhere"), Sydney quickly established herself as a songwriter that defies standard genre fare. Garnering stellar reviews from Grammy-winning writers Gordon… Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=85 Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox fronts this country rock band with laid back harmonies and classic riffs. Mattox cites his two passions as public service and music. Catch them live around the West Valley most weekends. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=83 Ramfoozle is a lowland Scots word meaning "to disorder or to turn topsy-turvy." This band rose from the ashes of the now-extinct "Free Street Band", New Times Best "Band on the Run" of 2007. Mick Fowler (highland bagpipes, fireside pipes, tin whistle, vox, harmonica, accoustic guitar, angst) chooses tunes from the vast library of traditional music for the pipes and tinwhistle. These tunes are used as a departure point for extended jams and "stupid bagpipe tricks." Richard Betts (accoustic &… Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=79 Dust Jacket formed in 2002 and have put out two self-released EP’s: Dust Jacket - 2004 and Our Tapestries are Thrift Store Quilts - 2005. Singer Conan Zimmerman's lyrics are particularly strong and their songs are contemplative and emotional. They're a great live band and play around town quite often; a new CD is in the works now. Delve futher at myspace.com/dustjacket Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=77 Tempe's Gospel Claws take a page from early rock music in both sound and songwriting, with an indie-folk sensibility and a little gospel soul, as their name implies. Their self-titled debut EP has a uniquely old-school feel, with retro production techniques and a bevy of vintage instruments and recording gear that result in a distinct sound that even the casual listener can appreciate. Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=75 "Blades sounds like an island-y Joni Mitchell — or a sweeter Jolie Holland — when she plays her jazz-inspired folk. There's a soulful edge to her timbre, but plenty of rasp and scratch in that voice, like something you might hear from a chain-smoking lounge singer in the 1940s." - Steve Jansen, Phoenix New Times Get more at http://www.myspace.com/michelleblades1 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=73 Dennis Rowland, the valley's best-known crooner, is the man behind the organization of the Geminis for the Train Tracks. With a life-long career performing all over the country, Rowland has three CDs under his belt, "Rhyme, Rhythm, and Reason", "Get Here", and "Now Dig This", and was inducted into the Herberger Theater Center Hall of Fame. For this performance, the Geminis are Rowland, Stan Deverenux, Phil Hendricks, Cordell Conway, and Mel Bridges. Unbelievably talented, these guys can entertain with the… Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=71 The five-piece I Me Mine are from Phoenix and have been playing all over the valley for over 2 years. They have 2 CD's, 2007's "Death and Taxes" and 2009's “Beyond the Body Electric”, both of which showcase the band's diverse musical background. Though pop music by nature, I Me Mine play energized songs with well-balanced melodies and evocative lyrics. For more information check out www.myspace.com/imemineband. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=69 Loosely formed in Phoenix in the fall of 2005, Try Me Bicycle is a trio whose quiet, organic music evokes the feeling of day-tripping and long drives at twilight; the recollective course of the vagabond on holiday. The band emerged from the longtime musical collaboration between singer and guitarist Andrew Naylor and bassist Jay Novak. Working on a core of songs composed by Naylor, the duo was eventually introduced to pianist, Jacob Koller, who would become the bands third steady… Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=67 Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl's style mirrors their life. Pianist/singer Amy Ross and guitarist Derrick Ross are nomads in the truest sense. Spending most of the past few years casting fate to the wind, they floated around but never truly settled in places like Nashville, and Arizona towns with colorful names like Wolfhole, Bisbee, Yodaville, Buckeye, Hell’s Dump, Willcox, and Mexican Hat. And like the myriad of locales the Ross’ have experienced, their music is also a melting pot… Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=65 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=63 Tempe-based Hands on Fire "sound sorta like the Replacements if they had signed to Motown," says Ben Gallaty of Andrew Jackson Jihad, and the description works about as well as any other. From crowd-warming for folk-rock stars Fleet Foxes, to opening for proto-metal legends Blue Cheer, to sharing various stages with the Black Lips, the Vivian Girls, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and Saturday Looks Good To Me, Hands on Fire have entertained diverse crowds with their take on classic American… Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=61 After forming in 2002, Captain Squeegee quickly replaced most of the lineup, keeping the name though its origin is comically unknown. Their formative years brought the current members together through instances of fate, and in May of 2006 Captain Squeegee released their debut EP, “Behind the Metal and Metric Pace.” They have since played hundreds of local shows, including higher-profile gigs with Incubus, 30 Seconds To Mars, Rise Against, The Fray, Everclear, Authority Zero, Pennywise, Social Distortion, Unwritten Law, and… Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=59 Doug Bale is a singer/songwriter from Phoenix who plays solo these days, though in the past you could find him fronting Mergatron. Three minute pop gems are his specialty, with honest lyrics and a powerful voice. You can catch his shows in downtown Phoenix at Carly's Bistro or at the Ruby Room on First Fridays. Check out www.dougbale.com for more. Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=57 Yourchestra has been playing like a good old fashioned jug band around town since 2006. Featuring a real live washtub bass, jug, accordion, banjo and other miscellaneous found "stuff" these guys are a total blast. Primarily focusing on American music of the 20's and 30's, Yourchestra's ragtime sound can light the room on fire. Hear more at myspace.com/yourchestra Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=51 Some call it “folky music”, or “rootsy Americana”. Others call it Country or Alt-Country, but if you ask Matthew Reveles, or the crowds of people who come out each night to cut a rug and have a good time, they’ll simply tell you that it’s good whiskey drinking music. Reveles, along with Fancy Cloud (his live backing band, comprised of an upright bassist, drummer, and on occasion banjo and/or pedal steel players) can usually be seen tossing them back and… Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=49 Miniature Tigers’ sound was forged in the bedroom of frontman Charlie Brand, only to quickly outgrow the space, with the band soon finding itself on stage, in the studio and signed to Phoenix’s Modern Art Records in short order. Joined by Rick Schaier and also a few others in their live incarnations, they have been touring extensively this year. They aim for a controlled chaos aesthetic that eschews “auto-pilot” at all costs. Their debut album, "Tell it to the Volcano"… Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=47 Named after their favorite coffee shop on Mill Avenue, these guys have been playing and writing songs for about a year and a half. Stuck between the Allman Bros and My Morning Jacket, their songs are pop influenced rock with an REM-style delivery. Look for a new CD before the end of the year. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=45 In a life spent searching for the one multi-faceted, atypically melodic dirt road that travels across many musical landscapes, we have found quite possibly the one band that not only has traveled this road, but also rocked it's many stories to the slack-jawed hitchhikers along the way. Gospel blues? Classic stomp rock? Indie? Folk? They all have hopped along for the ride on a road this startlingly authentic band has christened "laura". Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=43 A true stand out in the Phoenix and Tempe music scene, Dry River Yacht Club hosts a wide variety of instrumentation, including bass clarinet, French Horn and accordion. The energy they bring to the stage is contagious; listeners can't help but move with the rhythms carved out by the drum and percussion-inspired guitar playing. The voice is angelic but delivered in a Gypsy-jazz sort of way. Get on board! Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=39 On April 15, 2006, Andrew Jackson Jihad played as part of the 2006 New Times Music Showcase, was nominated for Best Americana Band, and won a Best of Phoenix award later that year. Many significant Arizona musicians have sat in with the duo of Sean and Ben, including John de la Cruz of Fatigo and Asleep in the Sea's Owen Evans. Dylan Cook of Partners in 818 also plays mandolin regularly with the band, and Stephen Steinbrink of French Quarter… Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=37 Many have attempted to describe Fatigo. Of the band: oddball, clever, strange, oddball auteur, absurdist, irrepressible, and, finally, supremely oddball. Of the music: lo-fi, Latin, lounge, pop, folky, jazzy, cumbia, tejano, norteño, mariachi, bossa nova, and not-quite-rock/not-quite-ordinary………… to name a few. So hit play and make your own call... Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=35 Stephen Steinbrink has learned the ins and outs of music on his own...he has a ton of self-release material, has toured relentlessly, and has built a solid audience all on his own. The press says: "Formerly known as French Quarter, Stephen Steinbrink is a 20 year old singer/songwriter whose compositions are far more achieved than about 95% of the other stuff out there in this realm. With an ear for catchy bedroom melodies, Steinbrink does an impressive job of leaving… Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=33 Robin Vining is a staple in the Phoenix music scene, fronting the Sweet Bleeders and playing in Colorstore and a host of other local bands such as the MiniBosses, Fatigo, and a barbershop quartet. Robin has mastered an assortment of instruments and can "get by" on almost any instrument he is handed. His voice is breathtaking and his songs will stick in your head forever. One of the best we've got. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=31 Courtney cut her first CD at 17 years old and was featured in several Top 10 music lists around town. She has an incredible maturity to her vocal skills and a sound that harkens all the way back to the 30s and 40s. Check out her MySpace profile at http://www.myspace.com/courtneyandrewsmusic Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=27 Mikel Lander and Meredith Moore of the Sugar Thieves, just back from Memphis where they traveled to compete in the International Blues Competition. Over 100 artists competed; these guys made the final 7! Check out their MySpace profile at http://www.myspace.com/mikellander Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=1 Kinch is an indie pop band from Phoenix, Arizona. Their sound has been described as brusque power pop, "an alt-rock pop style reminiscent of a few Brit bands, hearkening back to the sensibilities of '60s garage rock." The band's debut album, Advances, was recently honored as the Best Arizona Album of 2008 by the Phoenix New Times. Their pop sound has drawn comparisons to Coldplay and the The Strokes, while others have likened them to Ben Folds, The Arcade Fire… Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org/track.php?id=81 What do you get if you take 1960s Stax-Records-style gospel and Southern soul and cross it with the darkly literate lyrical sensibility of Leonard Cohen? Well, yes... Nick Cave. But alright, what if you then add a bit of Hank Williams, some film noir and an occasional touch of cabaret? Okay, yeah... Tom Waits, fair enough. But okay... Turn Back o Man fits right in there somewhere. Frontman Daryl Scariot has such a powerful voice it will shock you into… Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.thetraintracks.org Once a week, we bring you raw and uncut performances from a local artists playing live on the Metro Light Rail. Our city serves as a backdrop. The bands write the soundtrack.