DESERT STORIES

Dave Blunts brought his no-filter attitude to Phoenix's Crescent Ballroom, kicking off his tour with DJ Jozier and Pablo Skywalkin to a packed house. Chilling on his custom purple loveseat, Blunts previewed tracks from "You Can't Say That" while creating buzz by stopping the show to demand everyone recite his lyrics uncensored. Despite the crowd's wild energy, signs, and mosh pits, the rapper teased but skipped his promised crowdsurfing moment. His slur-filled new album drops

Warbringer’s “Vortex of Violence Tour” crushed Phoenix with savage sets from Skeletal Remains, Allegaeon, and Summoning the Lich. A night of thrash, death, and fantasy-fueled fury lit up Last Exit Live as metal fans moshed to relentless riffs, brutal vocals, and otherworldly solos.

GOYA dropped death-fuzz previews, Green Druid crushed slow riffs, and AZ bands brought doom fury to Pub Rock’s metal altar.

Eternal kicks off their tour with a night of metal mayhem in Tempe, joined by Dogyard, High on Formaldehyde, and High Castle.

Brutal Bash 2 ravages The Nile Underground with six death metal bands delivering grotesque lyrics and sonic violence to devoted genre fans.

Rorschach Test brought raw industrial power to Phoenix's Rebel Lounge, with Torso and There Is No Us opening the intimate showcase.

Silverstein celebrates 25 years of music with Split Chain, Arm's Length and Thursday for a night of MySpace vibes only elder emos can get.

Belarusian cold-wave trio MOLCHAT DOMA sold out The Van Buren, turning it into a Safdie movie set with sinister synths and snake-like moves.

BONGINATOR and FROG MALLET packed The Nile on their "Froginator4 Modern Tourfare" co-headlining tour, featuring intense moshing and comedy

Evan X Dana and Sungazer showcase their genre-bending brilliance with jazzy tunes, video game vibes and audience dance along numbers.

THERE IS NO US and JANE N THE JUNGLE blew the roof off Queen B Vinyl Cafe—loud and unapologetically killer from start to finish.

Amigo the Devil brought dark humor, banjo solos, and raw storytelling to Marquee Theatre, leaving fans laughing and singing all night long.

Arizona and California powerviolence and grindcore bands shake up Ground Zero Studios with roundhouse kicks and walls of death.

Machine Girl, Kill Alters and Lightning Bolt electrify The Nile Theater with insane, cyberpunk lights and sounds.

Ricky Hil, rapper son of fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger, gave Phoenix a one-of-a-kind night with a confusing lineup and poorly behaved fans.

Nitzer Ebb and Body of Light brought industrial dance to Crescent Ballroom, with Bon Harris leading a synth-filled, retro-futuristic rave.

Folk artists Lost Dog Street Band and Nolan Taylor's vintage style were a perfect fit for the historic Nile Theater on their Arizona stop.

When The Nile has a main room show that's “enter through the coffee shop,” you should expect chaos, and ORIGAMI ANGEL delivered.

TESTAMENT, KREATOR and POSSESSED raise hell at The Van Buren on their "Klash of the Titans" tour.

JADE HELM and OSSES brought wild psychedelic and post-punk energy to Walter Studios, with crowdsurfing, moshing, and raw intensity.