DESERT STORIES

Musician Brendon Small explores the influence of Queen's Brian May, the art of Dethklok, and the discipline of constant reinvention, revealing a deeper philosophy behind music and creative ambition.

ROVE launches Ice Pack Blunts alongside the Embar Battery, upgrading the ROVE pods ecosystem. We review strains, terpene profiles, flavor, burn quality, and potency while testing melt mode, new heat settings, and the LucidID Rip & Redeem rewards feature in this full hands-on review.

Get to know S&C Cannabis–the year-old local Arizona brand creating one-of-a-kind immersive cannabis consumption events all while setting a new, higher standard for the cannabis event community.

Bud Bros Connect vapes are the OG mix-and-match magnetic vapes in Arizona, but are buried by the competition despite having ergonomic bodies, high-quality product, and transparent COAs.

pop-punk band PUP banded together (literally) with alternative artist Jeff Rosenstock and indie band Ekko Astral to treat Phoenix to a one-of-a-kind finale featuring their "triple band."

Will Wood’s August 31st show at Ikeda Theater blurred performance and raw storytelling, blending chaotic humor, vulnerability, and eccentric fanfare. With support from Fish in a Birdcage, the night explored addiction, recovery, surreal crowd interactions, and a surprise engagement, culminating in a deeply human and unforgettable experience.

Gatecreeper's set at 191 Toole in Tucson, AZ proved that their shows are a safe space–as long as you're a headbanger.

In Slouching Towards Branson, Will Wood takes us on a sharp, witty journey through America's manufactured nostalgia. Blending humor with critique, he explores how places like Branson, MO, sell a version of tradition that feels both familiar and hollow. It’s a heartfelt, biting look at the way we package identity for profit—and what gets lost along the way.