The Healing and the Heroes
of the Tucson Shooting
Concert slideshow
YouTube slideshow
Do you have a special event that we should know about? Let us know! Contact Us
Uncovering the Heart of Arizona Arts
Hot guitar from Arizonan Mike Breen, available on CD Baby!
Picks of the Week
1/19 - Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks
The Compound Grill, Scottsdale
1/19,20,21 - 9th Annual SWSGA Steel Guitar Show
Sheraton Crescent Hotel, Phoenix
1/21 - 16th Annual Arizona Songwriters Gathering
Glendale Public Library, Glendale
1/21 - Cold Shott and the
Hurricane Horns
The Rhythm Room, Phoenix
February 18th Zonal Music poster below!
Lissa Wale's Photos: Emotion in Motion
On Sale Now: "Sticks and Skins" dedicated to internationally known Arizona Music Photographer Lissa Wales. MusicandMoreAZ explores Lissa's work.
INSIDE:
From Jean Luc Ponty to John Hammond and Los Lobos, New Venue Has it All...Patricia Myers Reviews Scottsdale's Compound Grill
Jimmy Magahern's exclusive interview with Bela Fleck.
The “Fly, Sly, Wily, and Dry!”
Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks Land in Phoenix
An Exclusive In Depth Interview with Dan Hicks
By Mariah Fleming
Tom Waits calls Dan Hicks “fly, sly, wily, and dry!” Anyone familiar with the music of Dan Hicks knows why. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks touch down in Phoenix this Thursday January 19th for a show at the Compound Grill. Hurry up, grab your tickets and put on your dancing shoes.
We talked to Dan Hicks a few days ago, and it seems unbelievable that this legendary great American songwriter has just turned 70. He’s happy, alive and kicking. And fortunately for us, he’s back on the road in support of his most recent five-star masterpiece, “Tangled Tales.” It delivers eight great new original tunes that feel like instant Dan Hicks classics along with some choice cover tunes. Featuring a world-class collection of musical talent including instrumental virtuosos David Grisman, Charlie Musselwhite and slide-guitarist Roy Rogers, it’s produced by Grammy-winning roots music producer Chris Goldsmith.
The album is a collection of compelling and witty tunes that illustrate why the San Francisco Chronicle gave Tangled Tales five stars, saying: “Dan Hicks is in top form on Tangled Tales, a dozen cool cuts.” The LA Weekly crowed; “Tangled Tales is one of his best, blending that western swing/Django/jazz/blues/roots/hippie eclecticism with all the expected sardonic (or just plain grouchy) lyrics, all drawled in style.”
Phoenix has missed Dan Hick and the Hot Licks. A lot. His Valley shows, most notably at the original Fifth Estate in Scottsdale, are the kinds of shows people who have been here since the 1960’s or 70’s still talk about. Hicks will bring some great memories along on his Arizona premiere of Tangled Tales. When Hicks triumphantly told me that he turned 70 in December, I told him if he’s what 70 is all about we have nothing to worry about. It seems more like he’s 70 going on 40. He didn’t seem grouchy to me. His conversation was punctuated with deep chuckles.
Talking to Hicks was a long, sweet ride down memory lane with a guy who seems genuinely touched to know how beloved he is by his fans and musical peers. Hick’s friendly, generous, albeit laid back affect, belies his strong sense of gratitude and connection with the people in his life, past and present. His musical friends and collaborators are all legendary artists. He is revered by and has worked with some of the most iconic names in music, among them Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Bette Midler, Brian Setzer, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, and Rickie Lee Jones. Dan Hicks deserves his title as a Great American Songwriter.
The 16th Arizona Songwriters Gathering
Fun, Fascinating, Free and Still Going Strong!
By Mariah Fleming
There’s a tremendous wealth of talent in Arizona’s music community, and this weekend you’ll get to see a lot of them having fun, sharing in the wealth. Take advantage of our beautiful weather and gather up your friends and family for The 16th Annual Arizona Songwriter’s Gathering, Saturday January 21st from 10 AM to 4:30PM. It’s a day showcasing Arizona talent, complete with ongoing live music concerts and numerous professionally hosted workshops, designed to assist songwriters in their craft. The music and the workshops cover all the bases. The information available to songwriters in the workshops, at no charge, is an outstanding opportunity for any serious songwriter.
This free, family friendly event is well known and anticipated by Arizona musicians and music lovers. For sixteen years it has been going strong, with a loyal following that keeps growing. Held on the grounds of the Glendale Public Library, events take place in the auditorium, meeting rooms, outer lobby and front lawn. The Arizona Songwriters Gathering, organized by Lon Austin, Jon Iger and Gavan Wieser, of the long running Arizona Songwriters Association, offers all day concerts and workshops that feature many great choices.
Every songwriter wonders what it takes to make a hit. In “What Made That A Hit?” hosted by John Braheny, author of The Craft and Business of Songwriting, you can learn. Braheny hears hundreds of songs showing great potential but lacking the basic principles needed to transform a song into a hit. In this workshop, he will advise songwriters on how to make their dreams a reality.
Tribute to Bill Heywood
By Liz Boyle
In an era of boss jocks, screamers, jacked-up clowns, or half asleep sounding hipsters, Bill Heywood became a star being REAL. He was casual, self-effacing, easy going, and had a good appreciation for the absurd. He was our mother's morning man, and as captives in station wagons on the way to school, ours by default. 
The personality that emerged between the Englebert Humperdinck and Sergio Mendes songs was upbeat, warm and comforting. He was the entire town's mutual friend.
In the era of radio when a little round knob glided a little red stick, back and forth across an illuminated piece of plastic the size of a six-inch ruler, he was the patron saint of the Country Squire. Goodbye Bill Heywood. You were a great radio influence on the troublemaker kid in the third, fold down seat in the back. Those of us who grew up with you are heartbroken to imagine the sadness of one who's trademark sound was one so positive and upbeat. You were a true original in Arizona radio, and you will be missed.
Editor’s Note: Liz, an Arizona radio personality for more than 20 years, is current midday host at Radio Free Phoenix, one of the last remaining underground rock stations. Her respect and affection for Bill Heywood is rooted in her own long career in radio. Liz hosted a show on the legendary KOOL 95.5 FM for 14 years and worked at KSLX, KDKB, KEZ. She was voted Phoenix New Times Best of Phoenix "Best Radio Personality 2006."
COMING SOON:
Series of KDKB interviews with KDKB air staff and others. First: Original staff Marty Manning; recording artist, Jerry Riopelle and "Johnny D's R and B" John Dixon share their personal memories about KDKB and Bill Compton.
Get ready for some surprises!
