Neil Schwartz Photography
Audio By Carbonatix
Live music and higher education go hand-in-hand like college dorms and blacklight posters. But members of Arizona State University’s AMP club take it further than just booking a crustpunk band in a tiny on-campus cafeteria.
“We restarted AMP this last semester [fall 2024] to once again give a stage at ASU to local bands and musicians,” says club representative Michael Delano. “And to give students resources and experience to plan out events and concerts and put on large-scale events from start to finish.”
The original AMP (“Arts, Music and Poetry”) started in mid-2018, and the group had some success in booking shows, including a 2019 festival headlined by California punk band Joyce Manor. After the first AMP went inactive pre-COVID, Delano and the rest of “AMP 2.0” are working to expand the group’s outreach. More specifically, they’re trying to better position ASU as this vital component of East Valley’s arts and culture collective.
“A big mission for AMP is bridging the gap between Tempe’s local music scene and ASU,” says Delano. “I personally believe that music is extremely important, especially when it comes to the youth. It’s a big way for people to express themselves. It’s really important that people from Arizona, especially ASU, are familiar with what’s going on with local music, especially here in Tempe. You’ll hear about the bigger events, but you don’t always hear about local, more underground artists.”
Delano adds, “It’s important that people can feel inspired. People have to have free access to a lot of these artists and what they’re doing. It also gives a stage for those artists in front of a large audience of people who can become invested in what they’re doing.”
That idea of “investment” works another way, too. As Delano mentions, AMP’s shows “receive funding through ASU’s undergraduate student government.” That aspect alone often prevents these still-developing organizers/bookers from facing the same money woes of many other DIY events organizers.
The AMP team have already made important strides in their “relaunch” efforts. A November “comeback show,” featuring up-and-coming acts like Twinstar and One Trick Pony, garnered more than 100 attendees. Meanwhile, a Jan. 24 open mic night saw more than 90 people attend.
“For some, this [January showcase] was their first time playing in front of a crowd,” says Delano.
It’s not just about garnering enthusiastic crowds, either. AMP are just as interested in supporting would-be production teams alongside bookers and talent scouts.
“A lot of clubs at ASU are focused on about building a community as well,” says Delano. “We want to focus on this kind of event planning and getting people who are focused on different aspects of production and planning the events and the music itself and just everything.” He also points to their working relationship with PAB Production, “ASU’s in-house production team, who we’ve also worked with in previous events as well.” Delano says that relationship empowers AMP’s effort as PAB “set the vibes of the event with professional sound and lighting.”
And like any good group of indie concert promoters, AMP are also focused on raising money for great causes. That includes No Más Muertes, a local humanitarian organization that offers assistance to migrant families across Arizona.
AMP’s next big event (also seemingly another test of its current operating model) is a Feb. 7 show at ASU’s Secret Garden. Not only because it features larger local bands including Snailmate and Bummer Girl, but because there’s deeper connections and meaning attached to this show.
“This is AMP’s first event at the Secret Garden since restarting,” says Delano. “Previously, AMP has had many shows within Secret Garden, including a show with Injury Reserve. We think this show will be special because of that history.”
Beyond that gig, AMP are already looking out to their next events, including a possible jazz show and more nights centered around art and poetry as well. While the future is important to AMP, and they hope they can make a real difference collectively, it’s not their primary focus. Because they’re young, and this just rock ‘n’ roll after all.
“I wouldn’t say it’s one of the main goals of AMP, of course, but that would be fantastic to have people who are so inspired and who are able to take something away from this club and put it into a broader passion that they take with them after ASU,” says Delano.
AMP’s next free public show is set for Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m at ASU’s Secret Garden (1001 S. Forest Mall, Tempe). The lineup features Animal Shin, Analog Monsters, Bummer Girl and Snailmate. For more information, visit AMP’s Instagram.
