Phoenix Travel Forum

A friend really wants to take me out for some Phoenix nightlife, most likely near her apartment in Tempe. Since I'm going to be fairly low on cash and I'm not really big on dancing, I'm avoiding doing the whole dance-club thing. Is there any place that has good cheap Indie rock, a positive and laid back vibe, cheap drinks, and is not sketchy ( I have heard some of the punk clubs are located in places you don't want to drive/park)?

My only regulations are that it be the kinda place a 21 yr old won't get bored as well ( I'm 27 and far from my college party, but she's 21 and likes to party).

You sound like you're kind of on my vibe for bar preferences, and I have yet to find a place in Metro Phoenix that I like.
You can try the Four Peaks Tap Room near campus, but that's not really a college type bar but just a brewpub with mostly older people. There's also George & Dragon on Central north of Indian School. Not exactly Tempe, but it's the only bar in town that I've found that I really like. Mill is pretty much solidly frat places.
For music, I've mostly found that it's either frat or a straight-up venue (like Modified). I've been to a few shows at The Clubhouse on Broadway, and that's decent, although it may not be on non-show nights. You can also check out Pranksters also on Broadway. Not great, but definitely decent.
There are some punk clubs on the west side of Phoenix. They're weird, and you kind of have to know which is which, because there's nothing obvious about them.
hth

Go to the Four Peaks, I'm sure you'll like it. I wouldn't recommend going to PHX, you'll find weird people. There are few decent places on Scottsdale road near Oregano's...there are many places in Tempe and Scottsdale.