Ed Masley

The Republic | azcentral.com

This year has seen some great new music from the local scene, but we’re just getting started. Any number of the biggest and/or brightest artists in the Valley are already working on their next move. Here’s a look at a handful of those acts and what we know about those records. There are more, I’m sure. These are the ones I know about that I know I’ll be looking forward to.

Kongos

I spoke to Dylan Kongos late last year about the progress the brothers had made on recording the major-label followup to “Lunatic,” the mainstream breakthrough that gave the world “Come With Me Now.” “It’s been a long time that this album has been not necessarily in the works, but we’ve been waiting to get around to it because it kind of took a couple years for it to get rolling for us,” he said. “We had some of the material written, we were starting to work on it, and then when ‘Lunatic’ took off, we put it on the back burner because we had to give ‘Lunatic’ a real shot with touring. So we were really excited to finish touring and get started on this album. There are some huge songs. Without getting into the details, there’s a common theme to the whole album, and sonically it’s just a really big sound. There’s a lot of layering and really big drums. We were really going for an in-your-face kind of sound.”

The songwriting credits on this one are more equally divided between the four brothers, Dylan said, “and there’s a real difference to our writing styles (so) there are some definite departures.” There’s also a lyrical thread to tie the songs together this time out but Dylan wasn’t ready to elaborate that or share the title, which also relates to the lyrical thread. The album is expected to arrive in June.

AJJ

I’d seen some online rumblings to suggest that local folk-punk heroes AJJ, formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad, might be working on a followup to “Christmas Island,” so I sent them a message, to which they responded, “We did record! We do have something in the works!”

Sean Bonnette did open up more when he checked in with the A.V. Club about the name change, saying: “I know that this record is awesome, and I’m really proud of it, but I’ve been saying for a long time that our band isn’t for everyone. It would be great if the people that are emailing us telling us that they are boycotting our band because of our name change, it’d be great if they gave it a listen. But they don’t have to if they don’t want to.”

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers

The leader of the Peacemakers is on his way back from a writing trip to Rocky Point with guitarist Jim Dalton when he checks in from the road to talk about the progress they’ve made making. “I’ve been working on new material and I like to go down there,” he explains, “where I don’t have email and the house phone, all that stuff, and strum and strum and see what I come up with.” Dalton, he says, is “a very good sounding board,” adding, “He tells me when I can do better or when I should stop trying to improve on a certain thing that’s not bearing any return, so I trust his musical instincts.”

Clyne has been working on songs for a Peacemakers album for more than a year now. When we caught up in early 2015, he said he had a pretty good idea of the sort of thing he didn't want to write this time around. "I just need to keep writing, keep it fun and not write so many songs about growing old and death, but not necessarily focus too much on chasing skirts and drinking beer. Maybe I've painted myself into a corner. I know there's lots more I could write about."

Reminded a year later, Clyne laughs and says, “That’s a good quote. I wish I had said that.” He also says he’s “approaching double digits” as far as the number of songs he’s written and the next step is to start rehearsing them. “I think we’re gonna bring a few of them to the Talking Stick stage,” he says, referring to the Peacemakers’ next local show at Talking Stick Resort on April 2.

Phoenix musicians share their favorite local albums

"And I look back on them and go, ‘I’ve think I’ve done enough of a body of work between ‘Fizzy Fuzzy’ and (2014's) ‘The Independent’ that was focused on working hard on the art so that I didn’t overuse certain devices that I may indulge in that. I don’t want to try to replicate it, but if in being spontaneous I find myself leaning on those old devices, I may just keep them in there rather than work so hard to change them.”

Asked if the process of celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy” has had an impact on the shaping of his latest album, Clyne says, “Re-immersing myself in my earliest published material gave me a perspective. I look back at what I was doing melodically. I look back at what I was doing in terms of chord progressions, song structure and subject and I see it’s very honest. And I don’t want to try to replicate it but I want to try to stop myself from stopping habits. I as a writer have habits that come naturally. And it’s good not to always lean on them and it’s also good sometimes, I think, to go ahead and say, ‘Well, this is signature.’ So there are a few things that I think subconsciously I was avoiding in the writing process, that I didn’t want to become a parody of myself.

There is no working title yet for this new album, Clyne says, “because I don’t have a general perspective on what the theme of the album will be, but I’m sure something will emerge.” As far as time, he says, “Jim and I, we’re driving back from Mexico, and we were just talking about producers and when to start interviewing them and the time is actually now. So my next step is to look at the body of work that I have as a whole, get my impressions of it thematically, play it with the band to get all of our impressions and then go from there.” Realistically, Clyne says it’s safe to expect a new album in early 2017.

Playboy Manbaby, "Don't Let It Be"

First let me pause to reflect on the brilliance of my favorite album title in forever. OK, so Robbie Pfeffer says they're working on what he believes will be a 10-song album, their first release since "Electric Babyman" hit the digital streets in 2014 and their first full-length release. "I wanna say we're close," he says, "but we always seem to get delayed." It's the first time they've recorded track-by-track instead of live and Pfeffer says he's really happy with the writing. "We wrote a bunch of songs, scrapped some of them and wrote more," he says. "t's the best stuff we've ever done in my opinion. The songs are all over the place and don't really stick to one 'genre' but they're all definitely Playboy Manbaby songs. Weird, kinda gross, sarcastic, fun but dark. It's not mixed yet and we don't have horns recorded yet, but it's really been a great but challenging experience to make this one. Hopefully it doesn't suck."

The Love Me Nots, “Are You Down”

The Love Me Nots will release their sixth studio album, “Are You Down,” this August on Atomic A Go Go Records (United States) and Bad Reputation Records (Europe). The album will feature 12 original songs and marks the first time Michael Johnny Walker will record and mix a Love Me Nots album himself. The original lineup of Nicole Laurenne, Michael Johnny Walker, Christina Nunez and Jay Lien will play on this record, like the last one. According to the Love Me Nots: This album promises fat, trashy rock riffs with colorful lyrics penned by Nicole Laurenne ("I Wanna Get You Off," "My Heart Is A Graveyard," "I Don't Know Why I Like You") plus three slower, more heartbreaking jams ("Kiss of Fire," "Breakup Breakdown," "Best You Ever Had") and — on one track — Walker's first time taking lead vocals for the band ("Living Dread"). Recording starts this week with Lien coming in from Brooklyn to put down drums. thelovemenots.com.

Metro Phoenix albums to look forward to in 2015

Captain Squeegee

According to no lesser an authority than Danny Torgersen, “Squeegee is revealing its next phase of metamorphosis with this future release. In our last record, it felt like we grew big colorful wings. But for this one, we're busting out some fresh tentacles. Some gritty, slimy tentacles. More synth, bigger horns, nastier guitars. But in a pill that’s tastier to swallow. I can't say exactly say when the official drop is, but we are about halfway through the birthing.” They’re recording with Bob Hoag and shared some fairly awe-inspiring new material at McDowell Mountain Music Festival. “The songs are shorter, poppier, and punchier than ever,” Torgersen says. “Bob Hoag was also quite the arrangement wizard, helping us achieve tracks that will hopefully be magnetic for a wider audience. We are trying to take the pop formula and throw it in a Tie-Dye witches’ cauldron.” He adds that a five-piece horn section, a new guitarist and “a newfound obsession” with synthesizers will be the biggest change, adding “but vocally more hooky & raw.”

Hourglass Cats, “Portraits of Cats”

These Tempe rockers, whose ranks include a saxophonist and trombonist, have been known to draw on everything from funk and reggae to old-school garage rock. They’re releasing a six-song EP titled “Portraits of Cats” that plays to all those strengths as they make their way through such obvious highlights as the breezy, island-flavored “Rainchecks,” the aptly titled “Downtown Funk,” the raucous garage-rock explosion of “Been Thinkin’” and the gritty, EP-closing “Be That Way.” The recordings were mixed and produced in house by keyboard player Jesse Morrison.

Release show details: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $12; $10 in advance. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.

Snake! Snake! Snakes!, “Tranquilo”

Guitarist Dan Tripp, who also fronts his own great band called Field Tripp, says he feels the new Snakes! album is “the greatest recording project I've ever been a part of.” The album was recorded with producer Bob Hoag. They self-recorded an early attempt at the album and ended up shelving it. “It was cool and everything,” Tripp says of that first attempt. “But after we got done with it, we thought it would be a step backwards for the Snakes! sound to release it. I think it paid off, though, because we came to the studio super-ready and made the most of our time. We got 12 songs done in I think 10 days of tracking and two days of mixing. It’s got a real scrappy sound to it that makes me think of that good ‘70s rock and roll. The production reminds me of Blondie or something.” Which is nothing like their earlier recordings. “This album is definitely different from our first EP,” says Christopher Sanchez. “But I think people can still jam this (expletive) whether you're 80 or 4 years old. I mean it. I have kids coming up to me all the time asking how I laid down those phat basslines. I just have to smile and shrug ’em off. I mean, they're just kids. What the f--k do they know?”

The one song I’ve heard, “Dead N Dumb,” is feedback-laden punk-inspired rock and roll that’s probably closer in spirit to the Stooges than “Blondie or something” but I’m cool with that. They’re joined at their album release show by Playboy Manbaby, Pro Teens and Strange Lot, which is an excellent bill if you’re looking for something to do that night.

Release show details: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $10. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

Scorpion Vs. Tarantula

I’ve only heard two songs so far from their forthcoming six-song self-titled EP, due April 1-ish, and I’m pleased, if not surprised, to say they rock. “Goodbye Fighter” is on the darker side of their musical spectrum, a brooding rocker about a tough guy who falls asleep smoking and burns the house down. That sets up an AC/DC-worthy chorus of L. Hotshot wailing, “Goodbye fighter / They said you were an S.O.B / Goodbye fighter / Ya always was good to me.” The other song I’ve heard, “C’mon,” is more reckless than that with a chorus built to be shouted along to in a sweaty rock bar. There’s also a Pandoras’ cover (“You’re All Talk”) recorded with Jim Diamond in Detroit and a song inspired by a character in “The Man With the Golden Arm.” When asked how the album compares to their previous efforts, guitarist Jay Bennett said, “I'd say if you tolerate the other stuff we've released, you'll see that this material will cement your perception of us as a band that refuses to evolve, for better or worse.”

Best albums made by Phoenix artists in 2015

Diners

Tyler Blue Broderick recorded most of Diners’ latest album, “Three,” with Jalipaz at Mesa’s Audioconfusion studio, although four home recordings are also included. Broderick says, “Tristan (Jemsek) and I started recording the album back in September of 2014 and I've been recording periodically since then by myself and with a band. I went in thinking that I was just going to do a full length, but at the rate I was moving, I was writing more songs than I could record. The EP happened after realizing that I had way too many songs. I've had far too many different ideas for how this album should be, but I'm happy about where it is now. I think this album is playful and with lots of different kinds of songs. There are 15 tracks, some are interludes and some are traditional songs.” Broderick produced the album with the help of Jalipaz and says it’s their best record yet, which is saying a lot because their other stuff is great. As to when you can expect to hear it, Broderick says, “I'm hoping for august, but i'm hearing horror stories about the pressing plants right now.”

Best music videos made by Phoenix artists in 2015

Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, "PAO!"

They're one of the city's exciting live attractions and that's always been the only way you could experience their music but that could be changing soon enough. "We are prepping a release now," says David Marquez. "Release date depends on record press. Could still be a minute. Plans for this summer to go back in." Camille Sledge, lead singer/leader of rituals, sent us a note saying, "I feel accomplished. I have been a part of PHX history with you all. And with the whole new mom thing starting just about the time I had Lomey, I am amazed that I did not fall off the musical dream I have. The exact opposite, I made an awesome piece of work with some proper real Mofos!! xoxo PAO family."

Celebration Guns, “The Me That Used To Be”

They recorded this five-song EP with producer Bob Hoag, who also added backing vocals and percussion, at Flying Blanket in early 2015. Their first EP, “Quitter,” was a collection of demos recorded on GarageBand that guitar-playing vocalist Justin Weir says would be “gracious” to consider lo-fi. A second EP, "Bright Enough," was “a bit of a disaster when it came to production value,” according to Weir. That prompted the decision to “come up with a recording quality that tried to match the experience of seeing us play live, which is where we get our best feedback.” The songs, Weir says, “have a more mature and less chaotic feeling than our previous work, without losing the raw energy or unique arrangements that we loved about our previous releases.” They’ve released a video for the EP’s lead single, “The Volunteer,” and plan on releasing another one within the next few months. The EP is being released by local vinyl label President Gator, available for order at hellomerch.com. The next step, Weir, is a full-length album. Twin Ponies, Sundressed and Flower Festival join them at their record release show.

Release show details: 8 p.m. Friday, April 8. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $10. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

Field Tripp

Guitarist Dan Tripp released a string of self-recorded Field Tripp EPs in 2014, all of which I loved. But this time out, he’s stepping up his game, recording in a proper studio, producer Bob Hoag’s Flying Blanket, and hoping to track enough songs to cut a full-length (Indiegogo willing). Although the funding campaign runs through Friday, April 1, they’ve already laid down rhythm tracks on six tracks. “I don’t want to do another EP,” Tripp says. “So I’m hopeful it will be a full-length.” The sessions have been going really well, he says. “Just hearing back what we’ve done so far, it’s bigger and better than anything I’ve done before.” What made him want to go into the studio for this one? Tripp says it was local music writer Mitchell Hillman. “I’ve known Mitchell a long time,” he says, with a laugh. “And he’s always bitched at me because he likes our live sound and I don’t think we’ve been able to capture that yet. I like my recordings. They’re cool. But if you listen to that then see us live, you might not recognize it as the same band.” He’s pretty sure the end result will be self-titled. “We usually come up with something clever,” he says. “But this one, I want people to be like, ‘Hey, this is Field Tripp.’ I want it to embody what we’ve sounded like over these past few years. I want to capture that.”

Carol Pacey & the Honey Shakers, "Eyes on the Prize"

These Tempe rockers are in the midst of working on the followup to "Yeah Yeah Yeah." Guitarist Andy Borunda says, "We are very excited for people to hear what we've been up to. This album has a diverse mix of music with a lot of depth and layers to it. We wanted to make sure this is done how we wanted so it just takes time and it's going to be well worth it." The album features 14 songs and "a couple of very special guests," Borunda says, on horns and keyboards. In addition to 13 originals, they're including their version of Dramarama's "Anything Anything (I’ll Give You)," written by John Easdale, a friend of the band.

"For 'Y3,'" Pacey says, "I wanted 12 tracks that rocked from start to finish, all thriller and no filler! For this record, I wanted the same, but with a different dynamic which I think we achieved with our track selection as well as working again with sound engineer and co-producer, Joseph Asselin at Switchblade Sound." The album art is once again by Michael McCartney of DezignZ By Soup in Oregon, who did the album art and layout on their previous release.

10 new albums you should hear from Phoenix music scene

No Volcano, “Dead Horse Power”

This is, for me, the long-awaited full-length followup to one of 2015’s best local releases, “Who Saved the Party.” Jim Andreas says they should be finished recording by late summer/early fall with drummer Chris Kennedy revisiting his role as the person in charge of recording and mixing. The album is “maybe a little darker and heavier,” Andreas says, “but still upbeat and fun.” They’re also working on a video for a song from the album with Christopher Pomerenke, who did the movies “Blood Into Wine and “The Heart is a Drum Machine.” The video should be done by early summer.

Serene Dominic

The hardest-working man in local showbiz (and a frequent contributor to azcentral) is putting together a cast recording for his second musical, “Dark Lullaby.” “It'll be a band recording by Serene Dominic and the GemSeekers,” he says, “with guest appearances by Sara Griffin, Zack Phillips, Joobs and others TBA, like Ryan Avery if he says yes. I'm making the demos sung by me available now but they'll be on the cast recording.” I’ve only heard three songs but they’re all predictably brilliant. “It's based on an old noir film called ‘Detour,’” Dominic explains. “But I've changed a few things. I will be narrating as a member of a death-row prison band and we're doing a scared-straight kind of show so kids don't follow my example and go on an accidental killing spree across the United States. Our version of it takes place in the ’70s not the ’40s.”