What does it take to put on a great show? That is always the million dollar question racking many a brain. There are so many different components that fit together in that coherent and concise way great shows are made of. So who are these magicians working their magical folly of artists and venue collaborations? They are the concert promoters! Luckily, Arizona has a diverse network of independent concert promoters that work hard every year to secure that your favorite bands get their official Arizona exposure. Not only bands you recognize, but in many cases that great band that you’ve never heard of but were lucky enough to get dragged off to their show. While this is simply a small snapshot of the promotion community in Arizona, these three companies are definitely among the best:
Psyko Steve Presents When asked how Psyko Steve Presents came into existence, owner Stephen Chilton’s reply was it “just happened.” The promotion company, which started off as Chilton’s hobby, quickly grew into a thriving business that pulls in terrific acts each year like Miniature Tigers, Polar Bear Club, and more locally centered acts like Small Leaks Sink Ships and What Laura Says. For over a decade, Psyko Steve has been a harbinger of good music, with many of the acts growing from relatively unknown beginnings. Chilton says that is one of the coolest things about what he does, that the band that nobody knows could make their way on to the stage, and be the next best thing. And how has Chilton observed the music scene change over the years? There has definitely been a culture shift, Chilton says, with a lot of music performances making its way to downtown Phoenix. This shift is no doubt a result of the new venues popping up over the Valley in the last few years, and the closing of some of the older favorites. The tides of the music scene seem to be changing, but it’s clear that Psyko Steve Presents plans to continue to bring great bands to AZ. To check out their list of upcoming shows, try Facebook.
Steve LeVine Entertainment Steve LeVine’s attitude is why not have it all? Not only has SLE brought in killer DJ’s such as Afrojack, Paul Van Dyk, Morgan Page, Kaskade and Deadmau5 all in the timely essence of this past year. The fact remains that SLE also has its proverbial toes dipped in everything from its yearly Ghostball Halloween Event to the Sun Devil Tailgate Experience to charity events, and even last year’s auspicious Red Bull Soundclash held in Scottsdale. They are pretty much doing it all. It’s no surprise that SLE gets such talented DJ’s to showcase at their events. As LeVine puts it, the party has never really stopped. Beginning his career as a disc jockey and organizing events for his fraternity, it’s only natural that LeVine’s paths lead him to that of an entrepreneur. Now with SLE as a full blown entertainment conglomerate, with a staff of more than eighty people, they are definitely expanding their party network. Their multifaceted approach to entertainment events only seems to increase their attendance. Within their variety of electronic music artists and quirky party themes, SLE is sure to catch your interest in some manner or fashion. For a list of their upcoming events, look here.
Stateside Presents This has been a big year for Charlie Levy. The owner of Stateside Presents has not only run the company that has brought a slew of terrific Indie artists to our fair desert, but has also taken it upon himself to open a brand new spanking venue in the heart of downtown Phoenix (Crescent Ballroom, anyone?). Starting out by bringing live acts to campus for ASU’s Students Government, then eventually branching out to the now defunct Nita’s Hideaway, Stateside Presents became a reality along the way. This year alone Stateside has managed to pull in everyone from Best Coast to Odd Future, proving they pretty much pull from all shades of the aural spectrum. This variety is greatly appreciated, no doubt by the countless shows that have been sold out time and time again. Their acts come from all over: national, international, and local. The way Levy sees it, there really are no more strictly local music scenes. With a laptop and a microphone many are able to record an album within the confines of their bedrooms. The exposure is happening without the aid of a record label, Levy explains, and many locally based acts now have fans around the world with the simple integration of social media like Facebook and MySpace. This new personalized arena of promotion and distribution is a byproduct of the ever growing global technological network. But within this network Stateside Presents never fails to produce great acts in Arizona, or encourage concert goers to come back for more. For a list of upcoming shows visit their website.
Are there any great concert live music promoters that you think should be recognized? Or maybe you have a great story you’d like me to share? Whatever your musical concern, let me know! Email me at gmarsha2@asu.edu, or follow me at @whimsicalwookie.
