By M. Tekel,on January 18th,2012% 
Arizona’s Authority Zero have become international icons while staying true to their roots
By Troy Farah
Published on 01/12/2012 in Flag Live With hit singles like “One More Minute,” “Revolution,” and the Wall of Voodoo cover “Mexican Radio,” Authority Zero are arguably the most popular band to come out of Mesa—and they’re especially familiar with any kid who got into skateboarding or punk around the turn of the century. Noted for their mix of reggae,ska-punk and their Spanish and Portuguese inspirations,the four-piece admit a deep admiration for Sublime,Pennywise and Bad Religion,making them a distinct and flavorful semi-local act. Read More By M. Tekel,on January 18th,2012% 
A conversation with the eclectic Tempe nine-piece Dry River Yacht Club By Troy Farah
Published on 12/15/2011 in Flag Live Recently reunited in August,Dry River Yacht Club’s nine members embody the indie creed that “more is more” and band mates are there for more than just back-up vocals. Keeping in spirit with Gogol Bordello or DeVotchKa,the band plays their unique blend of gypsy tunes,a self-described mix of “acoustic symphony indie-rock on a dancin’ pirate’s rusty yacht”—and the nonet dress the part. Now the Tempe-based band are taking their gig more places than ever. Flag Livesat down to speak to Henri Bernard (percussionist,) Kristilyn Woods (bassoon) and Megyn Neff (violinist) about their new EP and the musical atmosphere in Arizona. Read More By M. Tekel,on December 28th,2011% 
In Rotation The very best of the 2011’s musical offerings By Troy Farah
Published on 12/22/2011 Well,now that he’s almost gone,I can talk all I want about 2011 behind his back. What a long year. I can’t really say it was good or bad,but just somewhere in between. Pretty neutral. The Arab Spring led to some pretty neutral results. Occupy Wall Street,also pretty neutral. The Iraq Invasion is wrapping up,but the War on Terror gets more and more frightening over here. So,pretty neutral. Although,in the long run we should choose to champion what was exceptional,and few things were as exceptional this year as these album releases. That’s right,it’s Flag Live’s Best Music of 2011. Read More By M. Tekel,on December 1st,2011% 
A visionary director’s creepy side project and sonic spacey narcissism By Troy Farah
Published on 11/24/2011 David Lynch Crazy Clown Time Rating:3/5 If a director ignores music,he’s hardly a director. It follows that David Lynch,whose films epitomize the phrase “avant garde” as much as they represent the words “[expletive] confusing,” pays so much attention to what melody is going on in the background. It’s not weird (or even news) that Lynch has been expanding his creativity to a different territory,this time with his solo record debut: Crazy Clown Time. Lynch has recorded music multiple times before,several times for the movies “Twin Peaks” and “Inland Empire” and once with superstar producer Danger Mouse. Read More By M. Tekel,on November 18th,2011% 
Wilco’s consoling pity party and too many turntables for DJ Shadow By Troy Farah
Published on 11/10/2011 Wilco
The Whole Love
Rating:3.5/5 Like most Wilco albums,their eighth release,The Whole Love,requires multiple listens. Subtle-yet-complex arrangements spattered with bold,but depressing (and occasionally nonsensical) lyrics make this Chicago six-piece at times inaccessible. Yet,for The Whole Love,not all of the love is there. “Art of Almost,” the album’s opener,would have made for a better record title. “Almost” captures Wilco’s efforts more clearly here—a rather colorless product with themes typical of Wilco,without the heart.
Read More By M. Tekel,on October 21st,2011% 
Mediocre musical salvation and the empty message of the Chili Peppers By Troy Farah
Published on 10/13/2011 Switchfoot Vice Verses Rating:3/5 Reviewing Christian rock is somewhat like analyzing Justin Bieber or the “High School Musical” soundtrack—of course it sucks,because it isn’t marketed to you. In a way,Christian rockers are kind of punk rock,because they don’t answer to anyone and they seem to care far less about money,but the majority of it that isn’t boring is merely imitating something else. Read More By M. Tekel,on October 10th,2011% 
A hipster yawn and N.W.A’s heirs apparent By Troy Farah
Published on 09/15/2011 MellowHype BlackenedWhite Rating:4/5 Self-descriptions like,“This album is packed with gun sounds,grams of coke and dead cops—the perfect soundtrack for mobbing on a dark Halloween night” is what makes the whole Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA) collective so enjoyable. Half the group ain’t even old enough to drink and they’re dropping albums more creative,ballsy and fun than almost anything hitting the airwaves. Read More By M. Tekel,on September 3rd,2011% 
The confessional style and restless spirit of songstress Amy LaVere By Troy Farah
Published on 09/01/2011 in Flag Live Soft-spoken,with a voice like a Midwestern version of Fiona Apple,Amy LaVere wields an upright bass almost bigger than she is when playing her Americana tunes about falling in love,falling out and,sometimes,murder. LaVere’s third album, Stranger Me,was written over four years while LaVere dealt with the deterioration of a long-term relationship and the death of friend and producer Jim Dickinson. Filled with bitterness,confusion and LaVere’s trademark self-sufficiency for coping with loss, Stranger Me was lauded by Spin magazine as the “breakup album of the year,” and certainly earns that title. Read More By M. Tekel,on September 1st,2011% 
Arctic Monkeys Suck It And See Rating:2/5
Subpar Monkeys and more spaciness from Bon Iver By Troy Farah
Published on 08/11/2011 With their fourth LP,the Arctic Monkeys seem to be continuing this bizarre descent into bleakness. Coming from their post-punk debut to Suck It And See,12 heavy-hearted tunes,obscure with meaning,with frontman Alex Turner’s vocals leaning toward something gothic,this doesn’t offer much. And unfortunately this descent leads to utter nonsense. Arctic Monkeys used to be a band rife with clever metaphor (equally matched with groan-worthy puns) or fresh perspective on some oddly chosen fairy tale,but somewhere along the line,Turner’s lyrics became muddled analogies trying too hard. Read More By M. Tekel,on July 25th,2011% 
In Rotation: Spaghetti western homage and the declining fame monster By Troy Farah Published on 07/14/2011 Danger Mouse &Daniele Luppi Rome 4.5/5 It’s getting nearly impossible to count the heartfelt pet projects of mega-producer Brian Burton,better known as Danger Mouse. His latest collaboration, Rome,includes Jack White,Norah Jones and most notably,Italian composer Daniele Luppi,not to mention a reunited Cantori Moderni (the choir from “The Good,The Bad and The Ugly”). The music,a mix of bluesy guitars and dramatic operatic pop,was directly inspired by the soundtrack work of the brilliant Ennio Morricone,famous for his score on “The Good,The Bad and The Ugly” and other Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns. Read More | A sample text widgetEtiam pulvinar consectetur dolor sed malesuada. Ut convallis euismod dolor nec pretium. Nunc ut tristique massa. Nam sodales mi vitae dolor ullamcorper et vulputate enim accumsan. Morbi orci magna,tincidunt vitae molestie nec,molestie at mi. Nulla nulla lorem,suscipit in posuere in,interdum non magna. | Specialty Gunk Runner- Punk Heaven
Arizona’s Authority Zero have become international icons while staying true to their roots By Troy Farah Published on 01/12/2012 in Flag Live With hit singles like “One More Minute,” “Revolution,” and the Wall of Voodoo cover “Mexican Radio,” Authority Zero are arguably the most popular band to come out of Mesa—and they’re especially familiar with any kid who got into skateboarding or punk around the turn of the century. Noted for their mix of reggae,ska-punk and their Spanish and Portuguese inspirations,the four-piece admit a deep admiration for Sublime,Pennywise and Bad Religion,making them a distinct . . . →Read More:Punk Heaven - Love,travel,murder,music with Amy LaVere
The confessional style and restless spirit of songstress Amy LaVere By Troy Farah Published on 09/01/2011 in Flag Live Soft-spoken,with a voice like a Midwestern version of Fiona Apple,Amy LaVere wields an upright bass almost bigger than she is when playing her Americana tunes about falling in love,falling out and,sometimes,murder. LaVere’s third album, Stranger Me,was written over four years while LaVere dealt with the deterioration of a long-term relationship and the death of friend and producer Jim Dickinson. Filled with bitterness,confusion and LaVere’s trademark self-sufficiency for coping with loss, Stranger Me was lauded by Spin magazine . . . →Read More:Love,travel,murder,music with Amy LaVere - Flogging Molly’s Soundtrack to the Working Life
Soundtrack to the Working Life Irish-American punks Flogging Molly are taking their vision much further than they ever imagined possible By Troy Farah Published on 05/05/2011 They’re Irish. They’re punk. They’re Irish-punk. You know,they’re Flogging Molly. For 14 years,Flogging Molly have circled the globe on a nearly endless tour playing intense,intoxicated tunes evoking the Dead Kennedys and the Dubliners. Only Dave King,lead singer and guitarist,is actually from Ireland. The band itself was formed in Los Angeles around the Irish pub Molly Malone’s,where the seven-piece band played so often they felt like they were flogging . . . →Read More:Flogging Molly’s Soundtrack to the Working Life - Protesters pissed about impending police state
Much like the controversial law SB 1070,a new piece of legislation dealing with immigration,SB 1611,has drawn some angry critics. Protesters gathered outside Flagstaff City Hall Wednesday evening waving signs and chanting “Si se puede” at traffic. Students and citizens,young and old,stood together and later took turns giving speeches through a bullhorn. If passed,SB 1611 will tighten identification requirements on every level from school enrollment to hospital visits to getting a job to driving a car. It would be illegal for an undocumented immigrant to enroll in university,to drive,to get treatment from a . . . →Read More:Protesters pissed about impending police state - Slightly Drunk at NAU’s Drinking Age Debate
Well,NAU hosted a debate about lowering the drinking age and with all the graphs and statistics thrown around like t-shirts at a Wildcats game,it was hard to concentrate,but I did learn one important thing tonight – debates are some of the most boring places,next to doctor’s offices and graduation ceremonies,to show up to drunk as fuck. I only had four vodka shots in the “Mountain Dew” bottle I snuck in and only suckled down two beers and three additional shots before stumbling into this event,but I sat quietly and listened intently to some argument . . . →Read More:Slightly Drunk at NAU’s Drinking Age Debate
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