177 replies to this topic

[bob]

minardi, as always, is right.

when i don't know what to do, i just listen to the big boys. they give pretty good advice about this kind of stuff.

[mothrock]

I always tell good touring acts that I see about phoenix. I also ALWAYS mention this site.

The main reason I left phoenix was due to the heat. I just couldn't take it anymore. Nothing about the place really bugs me. There are shitty suburbs around every "cool" city, that's just a fact of life.

the music there / scene definently doesn't suck. It could be a lot worse!

[chadk]

after 5 years of the no ac only broken swamp cooler farmer house summers, i can handle anything.

[donald]

very true

one good thing I never have to worry about is a show being cancelled cause it got snowed out

[JRC]

I think PHX is a great place. I moved here 5 years ago specifically because I wanted to be part of this community.

I'm from Buffalo NY where it is FREEZING cold about 4 months out of the year, no one goes out for those 4 months. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep momentum going with an enforced break like that? Impossible. Really you have no idea how much I love it here.

One thing I've figured out (and had to relearn over and over again) is that if you get self-conscious about the art you make (be it music, paintings, djing, or whatever) you'll start making bad art. Do it because you want, and because you believe in it. It might be cliche, but its the surest way to keep being vital and make strong work, you'll also be more invested and stay interested. Your dedication will also show, and hopefully excite people about what you're doing. (I know of what I speak, I used to perform & stage performance art around town, and my 'team' managed to have sell out crowds at more then 65% of our shows--imagin that, a capacity crowd, watching Performance Art!!)

If you get to self aware when doing yer thing, it'll just become fashion, and fashion doesn't last. It might be interesting for a time, but there is a reason the styles change with every season.

I think, if we all just kind of . . . "forget" about the outside, and really get into enjoying what we have here, and excited about adding to it, we could wind up with a really really awesome scene. And then watch it happen, people will flock. Bands will be dying to come play Phoenix, and dying to work with local acts, producers, ect.

I don't know why its so hard to get people out to shows. We've had great bands at our place (in my opinion) who've played to practically no one. Other times, we hit some weird lucky streak and everything goes right for a while. But the thing is, we try to just be into what we're doing and work with people who feel the same way. That, if it doesn't make it profitable all the time, at least makes it enjoyable. Its The Trunk Space community, and its part of the Grand Ave community, and its part of the Downtown community, and the Phoenix community, and--I hope--seen as part of the Tempe & Mesa, & Glendale, and wherever else community too. You either get it, or you don't.

I see this happen a lot: a bunch of people standing around who might want to go thru the door, and check out the band from CA (or MO, or AK, or NY), but they're all waiting for their friend to go first, and no one is taking a step because they're afraid of looking 'laime' or un-indie or un-punk, or whatever. Take a chance and get dirty, the band might be awesome, if we can all just unplug our ears and dig a little deeper into the risk-taking dirt it might make the scene stronger.

At the very least, it'll probably feel bigger because of all the people runing around flyers, luging gear, setting up sound systems, calling bands, hosting shows, posting events, selling merch, writing songs, finding places for the touring acts to sleep, buying CDs, recording LPs, organizing tours, opening venues, rehersing sets . . . there is no great festival that is going to turn Phoenix (AZ/whatever) into the next great place. There are just hundreds and hundreds of little things you can do.

At the very least, once in a while, just grab all your friends, show up, pay a couple of bucks, and enjoy the show.

Sincerely, JRC--The Trunk Space

[JMG3]

i agree.
but most "normal" people don't read zines, don't hit up stinkweeds or eastside regularly, (or the shizz!) and basically have no clue when local shows are. the phx new times doesn't even print HALF of them in their "clubs" section. the az republic OCCASIONALLY will write about local music... but usually JEW or other bands that are already signed.
if "normal" folks were more informed of local music, i think more would show up. the most common response i get from folks is that they don't know where to go to see local music, nor where to find out more about it.
phoenix is also quite spread out, and lacks adequate public transportation, which only adds to the difficulty of finding "new" venues.
but i think local (and national) press can help (if they so choose), along with good old-fashioned word-of-mouth. first fridays is a perfect example of that. i've lived here all my life, and definitely think phoenix is improving.
the only difference i see between myself and "normal" people is that i'm a nerd, read zines, and hit up the record stores regularly, etc.. and thus stay more informed about shows, etc., but not quite so informed about the pigskin...

[dharma_bum]

One thing I've figured out (and had to relearn over and over again) is that if you get self-conscious about the art you make (be it music, paintings, djing, or whatever) you'll start making bad art. Do it because you want, and because you believe in it. It might be cliche, but its the surest way to keep being vital and make strong work, you'll also be more invested and stay interested. Your dedication will also show, and hopefully excite people about what you're doing. (I know of what I speak, I used to perform & stage performance art around town, and my 'team' managed to have sell out crowds at more then 65% of our shows--imagin that, a capacity crowd, watching Performance Art!!)

I don't know why its so hard to get people out to shows. We've had great bands at our place (in my opinion) who've played to practically no one. Other times, we hit some weird lucky streak and everything goes right for a while. But the thing is, we try to just be into what we're doing and work with people who feel the same way. That, if it doesn't make it profitable all the time, at least makes it enjoyable. Its The Trunk Space community, and its part of the Grand Ave community, and its part of the Downtown community, and the Phoenix community, and--I hope--seen as part of the Tempe & Mesa, & Glendale, and wherever else community too. You either get it, or you don't.

amen to this!

[ShawnPhase]

at least you guys dont have nothing dance parties and electro nights and more dance parties at ALL the clubs there like there is in baltimore.

thats prety much how it is too...maybe 35% shows, 65% dance nights...

but we have lots of free cigarette people and stuff around here, heh

[donald]

When I was younger I hated it when the average Monday night footbal watcher came to my shows. All they want are things they know anyways so you get the drunkards who don't want to hear original stuff, all they want is AC/DC or whatever they recognize.

I am making a broad generalization of the average monday night football watcher, and I am sure there are some out there who would truly like watching sleepy time gorrill museum. But honestly, I think alot of them just wouldn't get it.


.............................because they aren't played on the radio or on MTV.

[guitarduane]

sounds like the solution is to STOP promoting shows to ears that don't care and START teaching "monday night football guy" how to play an instrument. let's turn everyone in this town into musicians. this will increase the audience size. unfortunately, we will need several more venues.

[donald]

npr girl is okay