Every year, the Boston Phoenix picks a band from each of the fifty states and anoints them the “Best New Band” for that state. Previous winners from Arizona have included Phoenix’s ROAR, Tempe’s Hell-Kite, and Tucson’s Shark Pants (who played our Spring Club Crawl). This year’s winner? Stephen Steinbrink, who performs under his own name and as French Quarter.
Now, Steinbrink is an interesting songwriter, although he’s not really new, per se, considering he’s been playing shows since 2006, but turns out, he’s not sticking around our fair state anyway:
Like nearly everyone in Phoenix, songwriter Stephen Steinbrink (you may recognize his project named French Quarter, as well) has a love/hate relationship with the city. It’s easy to love the pockets of true community, the DIY art spaces, punk rock house shows, and the affordable, delicious Mexican food, but the summers are brutal, the politicians are maniacs, and the sprawling nature of the city makes it hard to get a real sense of what Phoenix even is….
“I feel like there’s always sort of a baseline of oppression,” Steinbrink says, finishing up some Salsitas and discussing his new album, I Drew a Picture, and the decision to leave Phoenix — not just to tour with bummer-pop songwriter Emperor X, but for good — following a stay in Olympia and an East Coast tour via Greyhound bus.
Steinbrink isn’t sure where he’s going to end up after his tours. He’s got an opportunity to stay in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the same place bluesmen like R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Syl Johnson made their names. He’s not sure where he’s going, but he knows it’s time to leave Phoenix.
It’s still a little weird to me that the Boston Phoenix doesn’t ask someone from the state they’re covering to pick the “Best New Band,” but it would be really nice if they picked a group that’ll actually be an Arizona band at the end of the year they’ve been honored for.
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 4, 2012.
Within a 500 mile radius of Tucson Is El Paso (no live scene), Phoenix, L.A. (an abyss for bands), San Diego (not much better), Las Vegas ( pretty obvious why this place sucks for original music) and Albuquerque (please don’t laugh too hard). Thats it folks. And don’t say Texas…thats a lot farther than 500 miles.
Because of this my band is relocating to the east coast. There are 41 major cities within a 500 mile radius. You can play Philadelphia on a Friday and NY on a Saturday and the next week play Pittsburgh and Columbus OH.
“Always a baseline of oppression (in Phoenix),” he says. Ask 100,000 Phoenicians if they feel oppressed and I will wager that less than 1% would agree, and only because they hadn’t thought of this complaint on their own. Good riddance. Try Berkeley.
Oh, dobbiedobbiedo. You make it sound so easy and epic. Using your logic, Jesse Kelly will become as big as Godzilla. I just can’t subscribe to that point of view.
There may be valid reasons to leave the state, but if one of his major reasons for leaving is that the politicians here are maniacs and he decides to relocate to Mississippi, then won’t HE be in for a surprise. That’s like leaving Phoenix for southern Libya because of the heat.
I heard a Band from Tucson in Phoenix at Va Bene Restuarant that did covers like No One else. They put their own twist and really got people dancing. What a pleasure it was to listen to them, Papa Delux & Main St. Groove. These musicians played and were having a Fun time doing it….isn’t that the way it should be? Check this Band out if you get the chance Papa Delux & Main St Groove should be consider in the future.
I would go for Olympia, most definitely. Moving to the east coast would be a huge mistake and, you watch, he’ll be back quicker than you can say Jersey Shore douchebag. The music scene there is fantastic sure, but that’s it.