Everyone needs some good resolutions to uphold in 2015, right? Thankfully, we've got you covered, at least for Phoenix's music scene.
You can worry about exercising and giving up cigarettes another time, here are 11 resolutions for the Phoenix music scene in 2015.
See also: 14 Things We Can't Believe Happened in Music in 2014
11) We will support more local musicians. This should really go without saying, but while it's tempting to save your money to go see the national headliner come through town on a Tuesday, your cash means a lot more to the local acts around town than it ever will to Taylor Swift or U2. Don't just go see a band because they're local, but make sure you help support the local artists you do like.
10) Put on more DIY shows. Who needs promoters? Phoenix has so many solid local bands, there's no reason a few of them couldn't get together more often to put on their own shows. Putting in the little bit of extra work can lead to a much better experience for both the musicians and the crowd. DIY shows are perfect examples of how music is best done from the ground up.
9) Stop making all of our bands sound/look like a Greeley Estates spin-off and work on creating a unique style of our own. It's not exclusive to Arizona, but we can't help but feel like an awful lot of bands in the Phoenix scene tend to sound the same. While the punk/hardcore scene will always have a place, we'd like to see more diversity from some of Phoenix's bands in 2015. We're not saying there aren't other types of bands around, we're just hoping to lay off of the angular haircuts and screaming skinny jean-clad singers for a little while.
8) We will stop complaining about Nate Ruess leaving and stop hating Fun. simply out of spite. "How dare the former singer of a popular local band move to New York City and become wildly successful with a new band!" That's what people sound like when they complain about Fun. You're allowed to say that you think the Format was better than Fun., that's your opinion. Just don't pretend like you never belted out "We Are Young" when you were drunk and it came on the radio.
7) We will finally go see Roger Clyne at one of the casino shows he plays. It's tough to find a weekend when Roger Clyne isn't playing one of the Valley's casinos, so 2015 just might be the year we listen to the billboards lining the highways and go see the Peacemakers play a set. If nothing else, at least you know you'll get "Banditos," right?
6) We will hope the Nile Theater get a liquor license. The Nile Theater in Mesa gets quality shows and has a very unique space. We're not saying it needs to be able to serve alcohol to be taken seriously as a venue, but the trek to Mesa from Phoenix would be a lot sweeter if there were a beer at the end of it.
5) We will attend more concerts on Friday/Saturday nights at the Trunk Space so maybe they'll save the experimental art forms for during the week. The Trunk Space is one of our favorite small venues in Phoenix. Unfortunately, you're not always guaranteed to get a concert when you go on a weekend night. Nothing against experimental art, but we'd rather have live music on a Friday or Saturday night. This year, we'll hope to sway the schedule by showing up to more concerts on the weekends so they keep getting booked in the prime slots.
4) We will explain to promoters that we think it's awesome when they collaborate for giant, all-day, multi-venue concerts in Phoenix and suggest they do it more. What if, just a few times per year, a bunch of the Valley's promoters stopped competing with each other and put on Coachella-esque show? There have been a few festivals in the past, but nothing big enough to become a draw from outside of the Phoenix area. There's no reason Phoenix couldn't have music-filled days and weekends to compete with Bonnaroo, Rock the Bells, and Bamboozle, we just need to explain to the powers that be that it's worth it.
3) We will see more shows at Phoenix's various rad music venues, like the Icehouse and Orpheum Theatre. With such a wide variety of venues available throughout Metro Phoenix, there's no reason to stick to seeing shows in coffee shops and arenas. Aside from the aforementioned Icehouse and Orpheum, why not go check out a show at Celebrity Theater? There aren't a whole lot of cities with a rotating "theatre in the round" like Celebrity, and it brings a whole new way to experience a concert that a lot of people take for granted.
2) We will stop (and encourage others to stop) being such a Phoenix music scene hater. Sure, Phoenix might not have the depth of performers and concerts of an LA or NYC, but short of that, the Valley's music scene can hold its own with just about any other in the country. There's an awful lot of disdain for Phoenix's music scene, but it really is blossoming into one of the best scenes around. It might seem cool to hate on it and talk about how lame it is, but try going to nearly anywhere else and finding a better scene. Don't hate, just appreciate.
1) We will dance at hipster shows. That's all. Just stop trying to be cool and dance to your heart's content. It's music. It's made for dancing.
Find any show in Metro Phoenix via our extensive online concert calendar.
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