Amy Young
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Articles by Amy Young
Master of Control
Upon viewing the intricate work of tattoo artist Glen Middleton, it would not be shocking if a dig into his history revealed that he swapped a career as a stone mason for a life loaded with needles and ink. Black-and-gray realism is his specialty, and his ability to create deeply dimensional, sculptural work on the human body is awe-inspiring. No matter where the pieces sit on the human form, that depth remains, highlighting his ability to work with the body’s twists and turns.
Why synth-punks Snailmate are leaving the desert for life in Europe
Snailmate are trading Arizona for Albania. We're in the final stretch of our summer campaign. Our goal is to raise $15,000 by August 9 to support the journalism our community relies on. Reader support is helping shape the future of local news. Progress to goal $15,000 What do Arizona and Albania have in common? Not much, honestly. But a new answer to the question is … Snailmate.
The best places to hear free live music in Phoenix
Skeleton Army plays Yucca Tap in Tempe. We need to raise $15,000 by August 9 to support the reporting our community depends on. Reader support keeps us independent and is playing a larger role in funding local journalism and shaping what comes next. If you believe independent local journalism matters, make a contribution today. Progress to goal $15,000 At a time when concert ticket prices keep climbing, many Phoenix venues offer live music experiences that don’t require opening your wallet.
11 can’t-miss art shows to see in Phoenix this spring
Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, Stilettos, 2024 (detail). Leather, silk satin, and gold- and silver-plated formed metal. Museum Purchase with funds provided by The Kelly Ellman Fashion Endowment Fund We’re aiming to raise $10,000 by April 26. Your support ensures New Times can continue watching out for you and our community. No paywall. Always accessible. Daily online and weekly in print. Progress to goal $10,000 Spring, for many, is all about rejuvenation.
Bruce Springsteen took Trump to task at Phoenix concert
April 17, 2026 Bruce Springsteen performs at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 16, 2026. We’re aiming to raise $10,000 by April 26. Your support ensures New Times can continue watching out for you and our community. No paywall. Always accessible. Daily online and weekly in print.
Celebrate Record Store Day 2026 at these Phoenix shops
Iconic midtown Phoenix record store Tracks in Wax. We’re aiming to raise $10,000 by April 26. Your support ensures New Times can continue watching out for you and our community. No paywall. Always accessible. Daily online and weekly in print. Progress to goal $10,000 It’s April, and for vinyl lovers, that means one thing: Record Store Day. This year, it’s on Saturday, April 18.
Justyn Chenoweth Person of Montecito, 1929-2026
Justyn (Justy) Person peacefully passed away, surrounded by loved ones, on Jan. 15, 2026, in Montecito. Justy was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1929 to Wilbur and Louise Chenoweth, and was the eldest of their four children. The Chenoweth family moved to Santa Monica in 1937 where Justy attended Westlake School for Girls and Scripps College. At Scripps she met her beloved husband-to-be, Ray K. Person, Jr, who had just returned to Pomona College after serving in the Coast Guard during World War II.
Chuck D and Public Enemy perform Feb. 22 at Innings Festival
When I ask Chuck D, the legendary Public Enemy frontman, whether he ever thought the group that revolutionized hip-hop would still be active after 40 years, he replies matter-of-factly, with a casual smile. “I never went at anything half-assed,” he says. “So I knew whatever I was gonna do was going to have a lasting quality to it.” If you make it to Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park on Sunday to catch the Public Enemy set at Innings Festival, you’ll be struck by the lasting quality of Chuck D’s lyrics.
New Phoenix band Ones Loved drops daydreamy pop-rock EP 'Oleander'
Singer and guitarist Jim Andreas is an easy performer to watch. He’s never simply playing. He’s living a musical vibration that warps around him like a second skin. The Phoenix music veteran has a new project, Ones Loved, and its sound is as rich and kinetic as you’d expect. The heady, swirling rock takes you on an emotionally restorative journey from the moment you press play.
Puscifer’s ‘serious play’ is the foundation of their creative process
On opposite sides of a stage, two fierce figures — one clad in industrial garb, the other in richly colored, stylish attire, faces painted with equally lush palettes — rev up. Each taps their feet the way a bull prepares to charge, creating a kinetic field around this rock ’n’ roll cage match. Behind them, drums pound furiously and guitars slip slick riffs into the atmosphere, combining to bring the tension to a boiling point.
Kid Rock will headline Turning Point USA’s cynical halftime stunt
When the perfectly listenable Brit rock quartet Coldplay headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show, no right-wing group threw a competing concert to run against them. Ditto the Super Bowls that showcased Barbadian baddie Rihanna, Canadian sensation The Weeknd, and Irish exports U2. But when the National Football League announced it was booking Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, a.k.a. Bad Bunny, the backlash from the right came something fierce. Bad Bunny, you see, raps primarily in Spanish.
Celebrating David Bowie marks 10 years, announces Phoenix lineup
The world still has a David Bowie-sized hole that can’t be filled since his death on January 10, 2016. A rock ‘n’ roll legend, we can still celebrate the man and the musical magic he spent decades creating. Celebrating David Bowie is a global celebration marking 10 years. A handful of 2026 shows have been announced. The short tour kicks off on Sunday, February 15, at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix.
Phoenix benefit concert supports families affected by ICE raids
“The people have the power/to redeem the work of fools,” rock icon Patti Smith sang in her decades-old song, “The People Have the Power.” Currently, folks are embracing that message, taking to the streets, social media and in-person community events to speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Phoenix presence and general methods of operation.
Playboy Manbaby is taking ‘Violence’ on the road
“Violence is coming January 6th!” Robbie Pfeffer declared in a video posted to Instagram in November of last year. A statement that made every follower of Playboy Manbaby stop scrolling, to say the least. “That’s right, the brand new Playboy Manbaby album entitled ‘Violence’ is hitting the streets January 6th,” the message continued.
Genre-bending rockers Goose announce 2026 summer headline tour
January 26, 2026 Jam rock band Goose plays Arizona Financial Theatre. When rockers Goose visited Phoenix in the summer of 2025, they gave fans a hearty night of music, playing for three hours. Now, the group has announced an extensive summer tour that kicks off in Canada on June 13. So far, there’s no Phoenix date announced, and we’ve reached out to their management to see if one will be added, but we haven’t heard back yet.
Maynard James Keenan’s band Tool front and center on Honnold's climb
January 26, 2026 Honnold Foundation founder Alex Honnold speaks during the 2023 Concordia Annual Summit in New York on September 19, 2023. Alex Honnold, 40, shimmied up the Taipei 101, 1,667-foot skyscraper like a boss on January 24 — a day past the scheduled event due to a weather delay — while hordes of live fans and couch supporters watched, knuckles as white as the chalk covering his hands.
The Diplo's Run Club Phoenix event had over 9000 attendees
Diplo's Run Club's event got folks up and moving on Jan. 24. It might indeed be trite to talk about the weather, but if there’s a place to host a 5K followed by a rave in the bottom half of January, let’s face it, Phoenix is tops. Make it a Diplo’s Run Club event, followed by an early-in-the-day rave, and it only gets more attractive. It was sexy enough for more than 9,000 people to wake, run and/or rave.
Giant Phoenix music festival reimagines Vista stage for maximum fun
M3F Fest is getting closer. On March 6 and 7, the annual event will light up Steele Indian School Park with more than 25 bands. This year’s giant party is heavy on electronic music, including headlining acts Mau P and Peggy Gou. Oh Wow is the event management and creative direction company working to make the Fest easier to navigate and more aesthetically compelling this year.
2026 Phoenix Breakaway Music Festival announces two-day lineup
The Breakaway Music Festival is a large-scale EDM event that tours multiple cities. It’s returning to Phoenix for two packed days on April 24 and 25 at Sloan Park Festival Grounds. If you want to catch this festival in other cities, Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia and Houston are some of the different stops. What you get at this party is top-level DJs and electronic music artists from a variety of subgenres. Think big-room, dubstep, future bass, dance pop, progressive house and more.
2026 Fountain Hills Music Festival lineup announced
January 20, 2026 Background of the tall fountain in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Fountain Hills is a scenic destination. Aside from its good looks, the numerous cultural festivals are one reason residents and tourists regularly flock to the Northeast Valley’s burb.
Iconic EDM DJ Diplo is coming to Phoenix for a run and rave event
January 16, 2026 Diplo performs at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 19, 2025, in Las Vegas. A 5K run followed by a rave? It makes perfect sense if you consider the run a warm-up exercise. This information may sweeten your pot: This event is hosted by Diplo’s Run Club. Yes, that Diplo, the DJ, producer and member of LSD, Silk City and Major Lazer. In addition to all of his musical endeavors, he is fitness-forward; running has been a part of his life for years.
John Mellencamp’s 2026 Dancing Worlds Tour hits Phoenix in August
January 14, 2026 John Mellencamp heads to Phoenix in August. John Mellencamp’s 2026 Dancing World Tour — The Greatest Hits kicks off on July 10, with a Phoenix show on August 9, his first in a decade. The singer and guitarist and his band will roll up to the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre to indulge fans in a night of roots-rock, fan-favorites. Kind of a big deal, as some of the songs haven’t been played live in many years.
Phoenix concert fundraiser supports 41st Tucson Folk Festival
January 13, 2026 Roth D'lux will take the stage to benefit the Tucson Folk Festival on Jan. 17 at The Rhythm Room. The free, annual Tucson Folk Festival is back for its 41st year, and to help support this long-running event, its hosts, the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association, in collaboration with Art State Arizona, are hosting a benefit concert. 15 Arizona acts will take the stage at the Rhythm Room for three hours of live performances on Saturday, Jan. 17.
‘Queen of Percussion’ Sheila E. heads to Phoenix for two shows
Sheila E. and the E. Train are taking over the Musical Instrument Museum for two nights, Jan. 12 and 13, with two shows each evening to serve up a mix of Latin-pop, soul, funk and R&B. The vigorous show, delivered by expert-level players, is nothing short of a masterclass in percussion and rhythm led by Sheila E., an unstoppable, dynamic performer who continues to dazzle.
The 10 best satanic and black metal books
The heavy metal genre isn’t inherently satanic. It’s hearty, loud, aggressive and loaded with guitar distortion and commanding vocals. But none of that makes it satanic. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Or in this case, the subgenres. And, of those, heavy metal has a ton. Black metal is fast and raw, and while not wholly satanic, some black metal bands use occult and anti-religious imagery as an overall thwarting of Christianity.
Bruno Mars announces 2026 global tour dates, including Phoenix stop
January 8, 2026 Bruno Mars speaks during the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Bruno Mars recently announced on Instagram that his new album, “The Romantic,” will be released on February 27, and that new music is coming on Friday, January 9. The news about his first solo record drop in nearly ten years was followed by the announcement that he’ll be hitting the road on “The Romantic Tour” for six months, traveling across two continents starting in April.
Bruno Mars announces 2026 global tour dates, including Phoenix stop
"After he died, his body was dug up and moved seven times because people thought his fingers were possessed by the Devil": Bruce Dickinson's unreleased rock opera may be the greatest untold story of them all Bruce Dickinson may well be music's most prominent polymath. Indeed, in 2009, Intelligent Life magazine declared the Iron Maiden frontman one of the …
Marlon Wayans' stand-up comedy is all about the journey
Marlon Wayans is coming to Phoenix for three nights of shows at Stand Up Live, Jan. 8 to 10, and he’s ready for every second. His recent comedy special “Good Grief” for Amazon Prime shot to number one in its first week of release, and that’s just one achievement. Like many of his fellow Wayans family members, also in the entertainment industry, his endeavors go beyond stand-up comedy. We’ve seen him acting in several movies.
Duran Duran delivered vibrant, career-spanning set at Mortgage Matchup Center
January 6, 2026 Duran Duran: Roger Taylor, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes. I can’t go to a Duran Duran show without channeling some portion of my teenage self. That’s no surprise, as most bands easily take us back to that point of discovery. That’s where I was last night, Jan. 5, at Mortgage Matchup Center — blissfully rocking out, hanging on every word like I still had that Walkman in the pocket of my jeans.
5 anti-Trump songs to listen to on January 6
Today, January 6, marks the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., being stormed by a mob of Trump supporters. Their goal was to keep Donald Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from certifying Electoral College votes to solidify Biden’s win.
2026 Phoenix Rock Lottery participants announced for charity show
Joey Gutos and Agnia del Carmen during the set by Ten Souls at previous Phoenix Rock Lottery. Neil Schwartz Photography Psyko Steve Presents’ annual Phoenix Rock Lottery has just announced its 2026 lineup. While the event starts early in the day for the participants, show attendees can see the performances at 7 p.m. on January 24 at Crescent Ballroom. Here’s how it goes down: The 25 musicians invited to take part gather at the venue in the morning to form five bands by drawing names from a hat.
Synthesis Microfest music festival returns to Arizona in 2026
January 1, 2026 Jen Juniper of Dutch Holly at Miami ArtWorks. Ready to take you on another trip down a sonic and electronic path, the Synthesis Microfest II music festival has announced its second-year plans. A joint endeavor between producers Low Key Organic and hosting Miami, AZ venue Thee 23 Skidoo, the two-night event celebrating the avant-garde and experimental edges of electronic music takes place on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24.
10 best albums of 2025 according to music experts
With Something Good, the arts and culture newsletter from The Conversation, we aim to cut through the noise and recommend the very best in new releases every fortnight. And what a soundtrack this year’s newsletters have had. From Lily Allen’s devastating breakup album “West End Girl” to Rosalía’s genre-defying “LUX,” these are the best albums of 2025 according to our academic experts. Yazmin Lacey’s second album, Teal Dreams, builds on her well-received multi-genre debut, “Voice Notes” (2023).
Phoenix artist hopes new coloring book is a stress reliever
Phoenix artist Daniel Shepherd has a new book. Phoenix artist Daniel Shepherd is using his skills and a desire to provide an opportunity for sweetness and relief in a chaotic world: He has created a character-driven coloring book, “Minimal: The World’s Nicest Bug.” The bug’s name, Minimal, is fitting for its style — a simple, thick black body outline housing its cute antennae, big eyes and upbeat smile.
5 most-anticipated albums of 2026
If you’ve jumped past obsessing over your 2025 Spotify Wrapped and summing up what you thought about music this past year, let’s take a look at what the next year has to offer. The scroll of records coming out in 2026 is already lengthy and, like many things at the start of a new year, full of promise. A few releases have dropped late this year that are so close to ‘26, and they’re worth mentioning. Recently, Shudder to Think gave us two new songs, their first in nearly 30 years.
See Lady Gaga's concert film Christmas Eve, ahead of Phoenix shows
Lady Gaga’s new concert film, “Lady Gaga in Harlequin Live — One Night Only,” makes its YouTube debut on Christmas Eve, streaming free on her YouTube channel at 4 p.m. PT and 7 p.m. ET. You can forsake traffic, throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and keep those pajamas on while you roast your chestnuts to the sounds of the iconic singer at the semi-secret gig that only around 1,000 fans got to attend on September 30 in Los Angeles at the Belasco Theater.
Arizona musician Kevin Daly remembered by family and friends
December 18, 2025 Kevin Daly on the open road. On Thanksgiving Eve this year, Kevin Daly died after battling brain cancer. A tribute to this beloved community member, was published by New Times days after his passing. Before the article’s debut, New Times’ writers and editors were inundated with emails and social media messages, ensuring that we would pay tribute to Daly.
The Saddest Movie Kisses Of All Time
Kissing is one of life's biggest joys... most of the time. As a greeting, an act of friendship, a romantic gesture, or a result of basic physical attraction, there are plenty of reasons to pucker up and put our lips on another being. And when we're not doing it, we just might be watching others do it — in movies, for instance. Unfortunately, it's not always a happy action. Movie kisses can also be full of devastation and heartbreak.
'Circling the wagons’: The Piersons hold holiday show at Yucca Tap Room
The Piersons' 2025 lineup. A couple of months ago, a microburst caused significant destruction in the Valley, including damage to the roof at the Yucca Tap Room venue. Mother Nature’s aggressive eruption happened around the same time longtime Tempe band The Piersons were planning their annual holiday party.
New EDM bass festival System Overload: Dates, performers announced
EDM promoters Relentless Beats and their sub-brand Aftershock are determined to keep your feet on the pulse and your heart racing. They just announced System Overload, a brand new bass festival experience, and it’s set to shake the ground at Rawhide Event Center on February 27 and 28. Headliners for the double day event are Slander, Wooli, Liquid Stranger, Nightmare, Eptic and Hol! Tickets are on sale now. A visit to the site will allow you to explore all the general admission and VIP options.
Maynard James Keenan’s shared songlist is a tribute to ‘80s goth
Now Nirvana’s rise to fame certainly wasn’t overnight, but it did happen pretty quickly. Once they achieved “rock star” status, however, frontman Kurt Cobain used his newfound windfall of money to buy some very bizarre items. In a resurfaced 1993 interview, Cobain detailed his spending habits. “Since …
Maynard James Keenan’s shared songlist is a tribute to ‘80s goth
Between the Spotify Wrapped brags and endless end-of-the-year lists that look back at every detail of music in 2025, the tracks Puscifer recently dropped on Instagram are their own special collective treasure trove. The band’s members, Maynard James Keenan, Carina Round, Mat Mitchell and Gunnar Olsen, shared lists of the songs they listened to while working on their upcoming record, “Normal Isn’t,” which is scheduled for release on February 6.
The Maine announce long-awaited headlining tour dates
December 8, 2025 The Maine headlines Phoenix in 2026. The Tempe-formed band, The Maine, has been rocking their pop and emo sound since they released their first EP in 2007, “Stay Up, Get Down.” It was closely followed by another EP that year, and in 2008, a full-length album The band, featuring John O’Callaghan, Kennedy Brock, Jared Monaco, Garrett Nickelsen, and Pat Kirch, will hit the road in March for 26 stops across the country.
Pete Zorn stops in Arizona for two intimate shows
Pete Yorn hits Phoenix and Tucson for intimate shows. This week, Arizona gets a double dose of Pete Yorn. He’ll be in Phoenix on December 12 at Crescent Ballroom and in Tucson at La Rosa on December 13 on his You & Me solo acoustic tour. He dropped “The Hard Way” in 2024, and it’s a succinct and gorgeous rootsy record that wastes none of its 25-minute, 26-second run time. Its directness is part of what makes it so haunting.
Pete Yorn stops in Arizona for two intimate shows
Pete Yorn hits Phoenix and Tucson for intimate shows. This week, Arizona gets a double dose of Pete Yorn. He’ll be in Phoenix on December 11 at Crescent Ballroom and in Tucson at La Rosa on December 12 on his You & Me solo acoustic tour. He dropped “The Hard Way” in 2024, and it’s a succinct and gorgeous rootsy record that wastes none of its 25-minute, 26-second run time. Its directness is part of what makes it so haunting.
David Byrne’s Who Is The Sky Tour hits Phoenix in April
The king of avant-pop released his first record since 2018 last week and wrapped up the first leg of his Who Is The Sky tour, which shares a name with the album. Now, another run of North American dates will bring him to Phoenix on April 21 at the Arizona Financial Theatre. David Byrne has been creating music since the early 1970s and became well-known as the lead singer of the new wave band Talking Heads, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Phoenix won’t see a Lily Allen 2026 tour date, but she gets close
Lily Allen attends "The Hunger Games: On Stage" on November 12, 2025, in London, England. Lily Allen’s recently released “West End Girl” rocked the tail end of 2025. A no-holds-barred autopsy of her relationship with David Harbour (actor, “Stranger Things”), it’s the most gloriously brutal drop of the year. Each song is its own complete mood, the music matching and emphasizing the pointed lyrics and emotions.
Phoenix musician Kevin Daly to be honored at music event
On the night before Thanksgiving, local musician Kevin Daly died after a battle with brain cancer. A Celebration of Kevin Daly is scheduled for 5 p.m. on December 28 at Yucca Tap Room, encouraging people to gather and commemorate this beloved Arizona music legend. His impact, not only as a musician or hot rod enthusiast, but also as a generous, kind person and a friend, was so profound and wide-ranging that an outpouring of sadness and love flooded social media.
Here are the top artists Phoenix listened to on Spotify this year
December 3, 2025 Kendrick Lamar topped Phoenix listeners' Spotify lists in 2025. Many people define their relationship with Spotify like they do their significant other: It’s complicated. Breakups are hard, and Spotify is easy to date. You just pop it open, and the music you’ve been collecting for years is at your fingertips, with new music as readily available. Your playlists, your podcasts, we know the reasons. Some bands have jumped ship because they’re unhappy with the low returns on investment.
Jimmy Eat World playing 'The Middle' at Tempe club in 1999
Jimmy Eat World’s fourth record, “Bleed American,” has been out nearly 25 years. It was released in October 2001, almost a decade after the band, featuring Jim Adkins, Tom Linton, Rick Burch and Zach Lind, formed.
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