Star Swim

Last summer, one of the coolest (and indeed, hottest) places to be seen was at the Hotel San Carlos for the weekly Star Swim pool party. An absolute throng of hundreds of hepcats and kittens crowded the tiny swimming area at the vintage auberge in downtown Phoenix for several weekends while an array of local indie bands and musicians like Miniature Tigers, Black Carl, and Mr. Meeble provided a summertime soundtrack.

Co-promoter Jen Deveroux sums up the scene last summer fairly succinctly: "It was fucking insane," she says. "It was half-naked people splashing around listening to great music. Definitely different than if you went to some Scottsdale party. We had the hipster crowd and a way different vibe."

Deveroux is expecting this year's Star Swim to be equally as well-attended, since the set-up remains much the same as last year, with a slate of local and touring indie talent performing poolside every Saturday night through Labor Day. She and partner "Psyko" Steve Chilton believe the event will also prove to be one of the season's most unique places to catch the Valley's biggest bands. (Full disclosure: Chilton is a contributor to Phoenix New Times)

"Playing Yucca Tap or the Rhythm Room is kinda routine these days, and it's hard to make something seem different or special, which is what we want this to be," he says. "It really gets a lot of people to come out that wouldn't come out [to shows] normally. Every week has different bands, so it's a different crowd each time."


Sat., May 30, 5 p.m., 2009