May 3, 2005
FEATURES
Frenzied audience rocks Mill for band fest
Downtown Tempe played host to the New Times Music Showcase, Sunday, April 17, from 5-11 p.m., featuring more than 35 local musical acts at nine Mill Avenue venues.
Tickets for the shows were $8, and gave concertgoers the opportunity to walk around downtown Tempe, while listening to bands throughout the streets and poking into downtown storefronts for drinks or food.
The showcase celebrated its 10th year in helping local music talent catch a big break in front of valley music lovers.
Top 40 bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Maroon 5 and the Gin Blossoms, were all discovered at past showcases.
Acts looking to gain local and national attention performed at several venues downtown including Hayden Square, the Library, McDuffy’s (which featured two stages including a DJ Stage), Mill Cue Club, Owl’s Nest, Ra, Rula Bula, Tavern on Mill, and Trails, which offered an all ages stage.
The showcase offered a wide variety of musical talent ranging from Hard Rock acts such as Stereotyperider (Hayden Square) and Steppchild (Library), and Indie acts such as The Necronauts (Hayden Square), The Reflections (Mill Cue Club), to several DJ performances by Tranzit (McDuffy’s DJ Stage) and Z-Trip (Hayden Square).
Other acts featured on stages surrounding Mill Ave. encompassed the Hip-Pop, Punk, Americana, Electronic, and Hard Core, music scene.
Hayden Square, directly in front of party night hot spot Margarita Rocks, served as a main venue to the last act of the night, Z-Trip.
Zach Sciacca (Z-Trip) got his start in Phoenix, and ventured back to home soil to entertain the crowd with creative samplings of classic rock adapted to modern sound.
Z-Trip offered turntable remixes of infamous classics such Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz.”
Mid show Z-Trip riled up the crowd by thanking them for their support, and by announcing “I am the first Arizona DJ to receive four stars from Rolling Stone magazine.”
His new album was released April 19.
During the concert, Z-Trip offered recordings of various musicians speaking their mind regarding the War on Terror and American politics.
The concert gave students and concertgoers alike, an opportunity to ban together with those who have similar political views.
Ann Sanchez, event patron said, “I like the concert (Z-Trip), but I especially like the politics.”
The showcase also gave valley residents a chance to fully indulge in the regional music scene.
Sanchez commented that she mainly came out to support the Arizona music scene saying, “I came out for the people.”
A portion of the profits earned during this event benefited Phoenix Body Positive, an organization that assists individuals living with HIV.
The organization helps those who are battling HIV with education, family support, early intervention, and research services.
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