Best Album 2024 | Chrome Rhino | Nightlife | Phoenix
Navigation
Support Us
Search

Best Album

Chrome Rhino

As a rule, anything called "These Precarious Experiments Determine What The Future Will Be" demands your unyielding attention. Local rockers Chrome Rhino have nailed more than just the album title with this 14-track sonic smorgasbord of wonderfully nerdy prog rock, sensuous glam rock and oversized space rock. Chrome Rhino have come a long way since March 2021's "I Think They're After Me," which while pleasant and entertaining, only hints at the songwriting chops and sheer ambition of Chrome Rhino collectively. "These Precarious Experiments...," meanwhile, seems to better capture both the band's core ability and charm as well as their energetic live show. From the sleek, slow-burn of the space blues jam "The Void (You Only Have Yourself To Blame)" to the New Wave-tinged "Gemini," the LP truly achieved the "shiny and dangerous" tag the band have touted. There's an overarching concept involved (albeit with a little more subtlety than some similar offerings), but the real story is that Chrome Rhino have elevated their craft with joy and precision alike. Welcome to the future. It totally rocks.

Best DJ

Pete "SuperMix" Salaz

Pete "SuperMix" Salaz is regarded as the godfather of Phoenix's electronic dance music scene, and it's not just an empty honorific. Few local DJs are as universally beloved as Salaz, and many can attest to his generous nature, iconic status and phenomenal talents as a mixmaster. A club owner, producer, promoter and guru, he's helped shape generations of local DJs since his days spinning records alongside Eddie Amador in the late '80s. He's given opportunities to up-and-comers at Monarch Theatre and Bar Smith, the downtown Phoenix nightspots he co-owns. And his dance events are the stuff of Valley legend, from underground parties such as Chupa and Red Monkey to Solstice Saturdays, his long-running house night with DJ Senbad. Salaz has also influenced many while showing off his skills in the DJ booth, where he deftly weaves house and world music into intoxicatingly exotic mixes. And at times, he's doing so with a loftier purpose than just getting people moving on the dance floor — fostering mindful listening in hopes of improving connections and communication between human beings. As the vocal track Salaz occasionally plays during his sets states, "Just listen, not only with your ears, but with your heart." Wise words indeed.

Best Of Phoenix®

Best of Phoenix 2024

Best Of

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy The Phoenix New Times may earn a portion of sales from products & services purchased through links on our site from our affiliate partners. ©2024 Phoenix New Times, LLC. All rights reserved.
Do Not Sell or Share My Information
Powered By Foundation