azlocal - A History of Arizona's Local Music Scene From 1979-2000 Nita's Hideaway

History of AZ music from the New Times (and inspiration for this site!)

Phenomenal Doug Hopkins Site & source for this site

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Bands and People:

Algebra Ranch- A short-lived project of former members of The Psalms and Jetzons

Alison's Halo- MP3's Early 90's pop

Beat Angels- mp3 Brian Smith's group who've turned out two fantastic discs

Beats the Hell Out Of Me

Best Kissers In The World mp3's Originally from Arizona before moving to Washington State

Big Moxie (mp3's) formed by all the members of the Stumbles except Ron Walker, released one CD titled "Bacteria"

Mark Moffatt- Big Moxie

Big Shot Allstar- mp3 late 90's Rockers

Billy Clone & The Same (mp3's) Early New Wave featuring Mike Corte, Bruce Connole and Damon Doiron, released this 1979 ep "X and Y" produced by Mike Condello

Blue Shoes- mp3's Late 70's, Early 80's Power Pop featuring Peggy "Murph" Murphy, they released two 7" singles with 3 songs each and a 7 song EP. "Better" is a fantastic song. "Better" Video

Box Of Cherries - Glenn De Jongh's hook-filled pop band

Brainz (mp3's) late 70's punk band, 3 members went on to form Mighty Sphincter

Brian Page & The Next mp3 Mid 80's rockers and National Star Search Winners

Brian Smith- Leader of The Beat Angels and formerly The Pills and Gentlemen Afterdark most notably.

Bruce Connole- groups include: Billy Clone & The Same, Jetzons, The Strand, The Revenants, Suicide Kings

Burning Bush (mp3's) -female punk/pop trio, in the vein of Minutemen/Red Hot Chili Peppers

Cartwheels-mp3 Alter ego of The Zen Lunatics with a twangier sound, released one CD "Dang!"

Catch 22 VIDEO

Caterwaul (mp3) This Regret Betsy Martin fronted this Phoenix rock group

Cheddars (mp3's)- Short-lived band included Wade Brandimore, formerly of Festive Death

Chimeras- mp3's New Times Article CD Another Doug Hopkins band, included the Zubia brothers and their Mistaken For Granted CD, recorded after Doug was kicked out, is much sought after

Conflict (mp3) - Punk Rock

Consumers (mp3's) Late 70's Punk Rock

Cosmo Topper (mp3) Arizona Band From 1980, COSMO TOPPER, Members: Jim Lundsford, Rick Unger, Pete Doakley, Paul Fulbright, Ramon Dominguez.

Cryptics mp3's - Bruce Connole's short-lived foray into metal they released one 45 and one cassette.

Damon Doiron- groups included: Billy Clone & The Same, Jetzons, Algebra Ranch, Mortal Engines, The Strand, Spinning Jenny (The Jennys) among others

David James - long time Valley musician and former host of Arizon Showcase on Cox Cable

Dead Hot Workshop Photos of Mid 90's Tempe Scene & Dead Hot Workshop

The Dog & Pony Show mp3's Though they were only around for about a year or two, the Dog and Pony Show handily brought a new buzz to the Tucson music scene, and sparked a rebirth in what some refer to as "desert rock" with their slightly country infused nineties alt-rock. Their only release, Ashtrays and Afterlife Money, was well recieved by critics, and band members were clearly hoping to do more, but things just seemed to peter out. Went on to form Creosote and the Friends of Dean Martinez. (from the Club Congress site)

Doug Hopkins - Lost Horizons , the definitive Doug Hopkins site New Times Article Doug's death His Page Wrote many of the songs for The Gin Blossoms, other groups included: Moral Majority, The Psalms, Ten O'Clock Scholars, Algebra Ranch and The Eventuals

The Drakes New Site with MP3's mp3's - Tucson rock/power pop

The Eccentrics - Punk/New Wave group from the early 80's included members Randy Bush, Rich Contadino and Derek Shellhorn, played with Gentlemen Afterdark, The Jetzons, etc.

The Eventuals- Doug Hopkins band post Gin Blossoms

Feedbags- featured Jim Swafford and Scotty Johnson

Feederz (mp3) Punk Rock VIDEO

Flathead Bio Myspace mp3 Nipp site CD Baby New Times Article VIDEO Alt Country Rockers

Franco Gagliano - influential owner of The Mason Jar, which hosted many bands over the years

Frank Lloyd Vinyl -(with mp3's) mp3

Gas Giants mp3 (former Gin Blossoms) Pictures

Generiks- mp3 Punk Rockers from the late 80's to 2000

Gentlemen Afterdark (mp3) Extremely popular, featuring Brian Smith of the Pills who later moved on to form The Beat Angels. 4 Song record produced by Alice Cooper.

Ghetto Cowgirl mp3's Ghetto Cowgirl/Velvet Elvis page Straight ahead rock featuring members of Dead Hot Workshop, Pistoleros and Gloritone

Gin Blossoms Videos Robin Wilson's Side Project The Longshadows(mp3's)

Jesse Valenzuela's side project Tres Diablos (mp3's)Jesse Valenzuela's Homepage

Glass Heroes VIDEO ageless punk rockers

Gloritone mp3

Grant & The Geezers (mp3) Early 80's Punk Rock

Grave Danger VIDEO Rockabilly punks

Grievous Angels

Greyhound Soul VIDEO

Half String Early to mid 90's group featuring Kimber Lanning on Drums

Hellfire - Psychobilly/Punk group featuring Kevin Daly (Grant & The Geezers, Flathead)

Horace Pinker VIDEO punk rock, originally from Tempe, Arizona

Jacket Weather - Outstanding Keyboard driven New Wave group from Tucson featuring Tim Gassen and also included Lee Joseph from Yard Trauma and Jonny Sevin. Releasing Re-issue of all material - info available here

Jagged Rocks On the Perimeter (mp3's)

Jeff Dahl Group -mp3's Legendary Punk rocker Jeff Dahl, who has played in Angry Samoans, Powertrip and Vox Pop, an extremely prolific career with countless records released, still going strong, his lates solo record (his 21st!) available here

Jennys (Spinning Jenny) (mp3's) featuring Damon Doiron, their first CD "Pinata Full Of Bees" produced by Tom Pettijohn as Spinning Jenny before having to change their name to simply The Jennys. Scott Hessel, their drummer, went on to be in The Stumbles, Gloritone and Big Moxie.

New Times< xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" prefix="o" namespace="">

HOME BREW

Published: February 19, 1992

SPINNING < xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" prefix="st1" namespace="">JENNY 17th Street
(local tape)

The latest in what seems like a quarterly issue of Spinning Jenny tapes finds the Tempe guitar band stretching its scope with added edge.

Indeed, 17th Street continues the Jenny's push from the comfortable charm of old Beatlemania bits toward a more strident sound, best reflected in the ragged efforts of new lead guitarist Freddy Gildersleeve.

The rougher treatment helps make older, more established Spinning Jenny songs sound urgent. The travelogue tragedy of "Fastest Car in Town," for example, now seems to make more sense, while "Back in the Light," the band's best song, adds depth to its skinny-tie power-pop.

But the Jenny's tough-guy approach costs the band a little something, too. The cool guitar touches on the chorus of "Back in the Light" are downplayed too much on the cassette, and the band's secret weapon, the back-up croon of bassist Damon Doiron (formerly of the Jetzons and the Strand), is hardly heard behind singer-guitarist Stephen Easterling's lead vocals.

Even so, Easterling is clearly one of the better pop songwriters in the Valley, and 17th Street confirms Spinning Jenny's position as one of Tempe's better bands. For proof, check out the title cut, which literally brims with a communal come-on to suburban Tempe. It's a good song with an inviting feel, and a perfect example of people not having to be told that a music "scene" grows best when it's pushed least.

Jetzons (mp3's) Bruce Connole and Damon Doiron from Billy Clone & The Same

JFA 80's Skate Rock VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO

Jim Swafford - involved in many Arizona Bands including Ten O'Clock Scholars, The Psalms, The Feedbags and co-wrote the Gin Blossoms "Mrs. Rita"

Jimmy Eat World Videos Discography More Videos Bleed American Live Video

Joel Samuel - Backstage Arizona producer/host with an amazing amount of video of local Arizona musicians. Check here for VIDEOS

John Dixon (Johnny D.) Local radio legend

Jonathan L Local radio legend

Jonny Sevin (mp3's) Early 80's Tucson new wave/power pop group, who turned out a Power Pop gem in 1982 on Art Attack Records, members went on to form Yard Trauma

Junior Achievement (mp3) - Arizona Punk Rock

Jr CHemists mp3's

KEYX FM Alternative radio Station in the 90's Read about it's origins

Killer Pussy Buy Killer Pussy CD Lucy LaMode's wildly popular group, output included a 7" record and LP with the "hit" Teenage Enema Nurses in Bondage. Still available on CD!

Kongo Shock Mid 90's Ska band

KUKQ Defunct Local Alternative Radio Station. Read an awesome history from founder Jonathan L. here

Lemon Krayola

Les Payne (Lush Budget Presents The Les Payne Product, Les Payne Project)

Les Seldoms mp3 Tucson Art Punks, members went on to be in Desert Roses and 35 Summers

Live Nudes - A Zubia Brothers band that included Doug Hopkins, when Hopkins left, they changed their name to The Pistoleros

Loosely Tight-(mp3's) A Phoenix, Arizona Hard Rock Group, still in existence!

Low Watts mp3 (former Gin Blossom project)

Luke Skood - mp3's

Major Figures - mid 80's pop band VIDEO

Major Lingo (with mp3's) Video

Man Dingo mp3 Punk Rock

Manic N (with Mp3's!) local new wave band and 1985 Soundboard magazine's "Hottest New Band 1985" , opened for The Jetzons and Killer Pussy.

MC Brennan mp3's Phoenix area Singer, Song Writer, performer and writer. Brennan's dad was famed Arizona rock musician Ron Dobbins best friends and frequent collaborator with Mike Condello.

Meat Puppets discography an awesome Meat Puppets site Reviews Rehearsal Video VIDEO VIDEO

Middletown - An early project from future Stumbles and Big Moxie, these guys played my 30th birthday party opening for the Chimeras and I fondly recall singing a cover of The Call's "The Walls Came Down" with them in 1994.