Ambition and Closure. Liquor 24hrs?

It’s the little things sometimes.

I may be one of the few people to notice the mural on the side of the Phoenix Public Market well before the announcement that the indoor market would be closing. The mural depicts a market at the center of a community in the process of rebuilding itself. The market bears a liquor sign with an impossibly ambitious 24 hour sign (currently not legal in AZ or most anyplace for that matter).

Phoenix Public Market’s Urban Grocery never was a liquor store, but it did have the best selection of local beer and wine in all of downtown. The market featured about 2 dozen Arizona produced bottles and cans of beer as well as a few regional craft beers.

The outdoor market will live on. Some have pointed out that it was never a full-service grocer. Others have noted that there are other local gathering places that fulfill the market’s third place qualities.

There may be far more important reasons to note the market’s passing. Your Downtown Beer seeks to work on the practical: “Where does one go to buy packaged quality beer in Downtown Phoenix now that the Phoenix Public Market’s Grocery is closed?”

Downtown Phoenix has good beer available. We’ve established that. If you think about the many dozens of restaurants and beer bars with tapped beers (Copper Blues has over 60 alone) and you add in the extensive bottle list at the Lost Leaf (over 150) you’re looking at hundreds of beer choices, but it’s not as simple as that. All of those places have on-premise licenses — you have to drink it there, you can’t take it with you. When it comes to “beer to go” I can’t resist but make the analogy, “Beer, beer everywhere, but not a drop to take.”

Remembering that Chloe’s Corner took over the Oakville Grocery space and assumed the beer and wine store license, I headed over to Cityscape to see what might be available. To my dismay, Chloe’s was closed for a private event and I was literally shooed away. I couldn’t even press my nose to the glass windows to see what might be available. Rest assured, Chloe. I will be back.

The Lone Arrogant Bastard

Undeterred I popped into CVS and saw several 24 oz cans that are normally seen in slim brown paper bags. A lone Arrogant Bastard bottle mocked me as if it had consumed all of the other beers that might have been in the cooler. Stone Arrogant Bastard is a great beer, but we can do better. We want our locals too.

With many things downtown, you have to know where to go and you may have to widen your search perimeter. Thomas Market Liquor on Thomas and 3rd Avenue fits all of my downtown beer requirements. It has a knowledgeable staff. There are several cooler doors full of regional craft beers as well as fine imports. There is even an entire door filled with beers brewed in Arizona. The beer geek in me noted that the code on an empty shelf indicated there once was bottles Deschutes Dissident. Thomas Market Liquor is just a shade over two miles from the Phoenix Public Market — a short light rail trip or a 15-minute bicycle ride.

Thomas Market Liquor's local beer selection

I settled on a Dogfish Head Theobroma. It’s an ale based upon an ancient Meso-American beer recipe containing cocoa, honey, chilies and annatto. The chiles and spice are a perfect complement a savory pork dish or a dessert with chocolate.

Fortunately, we may be on the verge of a breakthrough when it comes to packaged beer. The Arizona State legislature made a change to Title 4 of the Arizona Revised Statutes that will go into effect in August. The change allows beer bars to fill growlers of beer for off-premise sale. A growler is a 64 ounce glass jug that is filled from the tap. It used to be that only a brewery could fill a growler for sales, “to go.” This law change will allow any beer bar or liquor store with tapped beer to sell them.

There will certainly be a period where businesses work out whether they want to have access to the, “to go” market, so don’t expect a deluge of options right from the get-go. A business has to devote resources and inventory to growlers. Filling a growler without beer loss is not very easy either. One hopes that of the hundreds of beer taps downtown, a few will devote some to off premise sales this summer.

Where do you shop for beer downtown?

Visit: Thomas Market Liquors, 345 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602) 274-4780

Your Downtown Beer | Beer to Go – Gone?

Karen Frye at Gold's Gym

Let the women come out and play!

To celebrate National Women’s Health Week, an event at CityScape on Friday will encourage women to try new exercises, learn how to create nutritious meals and just hang out with their girlfriends.

Sports in the City, the first ever fitness event presented by Girlfriends Talk Sports and Gold’s Gym, will feature everything from Zumba to weightlifting. According to Karen Frye, an NBA mom who produces and hosts Girlfriends Talk Sports, Sports in the City will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to teach women about getting fit and allow them to “find the athletes within themselves.”

“Being fit and sports go hand in hand,” Frye said. “We wanted to provide people with this opportunity to try new things and mix up their exercise routines.”

Frye added that women who attend will get the chance to try out “chick boxing,” yoga classes, and dance classes taught by the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders and the Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad. They will also get a lesson on baseball by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“This is the first time Phoenix has had an event like this,” Frye said. “It’s about education, instruction, and showing people how to get into the game.”

Sports in the City will also offer services to measure body mass index and blood pressure. People who attend can even learn how to make healthy meals during a seminar put on by the Arrogant Butcher.

“Really, the main goal is to have fun,” Frye said. “It’s a Friday, so we don’t want this to be like a job. Come down, hang out, and we’ll reintroduce you to the culture and community in downtown Phoenix.”

Dillan Boyd, the group dining manager for The Arrogant Butcher, said that a major goal of this event involves creating unity among the downtown Phoenix community.

“We know that it’s important to meet the downtown community and continue to integrate ourselves into it,” Boyd said. “We really believe that what makes success is meeting people and getting involved in the community.”

Boyd added that she wants to use this event to show people the healthy options available at the Arrogant Butcher.

“We wanted people to know that they don’t have to choose steak when they come into a restaurant,” Boyd said.  “Through this event, we want to educate them and show that we do have vegetarian options, gluten-free options, and several ways to make healthy meal choices.”

Learn more about these nutritious meals and join in the fitness fun by participating in this free event, which is “just one of many to come,” according to Frye.

“This city is building its community, but we need people to come down more often,” Frye added. “It’s events like this that will get the people out here.”

If you go

Event: Sports in the City

Location: CityScape

Date: Friday, May 18

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Sponsors: Gold’s Gym The Arrogant Butcher, Par Exsalonce Salon & Spa, CityScape, Downtown Phoenix Partnership

Information: Facebook.com/GirlfriendsTalkSports

Sports in the City Event Promotes Health and Community

Have anything to donate? Art, furniture, appliances, etc. are welcome. Drop items off on Friday afternoon, May 18th from Noon – 5pm at the parking lot in the rear of the After Hours Building.

Artlink, creator of the wildly popular First Friday’s in downtown Phoenix and Art Detour, one of the longest-running arts events in Arizona, will be the benefactor of a warehouse clearance sale.

The sale will be held on Saturday, May 19th, from 7AM to 12 NOON in the parking lot of the After Hours Building, at 116 W. McDowell Road. The After Hours Building is in the heart of downtown Phoenix, 1 block west of the Phoenix Art Museum and the Central/McDowell Light Rail Stop.

Merchandise comes from a variety of manufacturers and most are never-used overstocks and samples. Items in the sale include gift-wrap, stationery goods, pet products, scrap-booking supplies, t-shirts, greeting cards, holiday decor plus art, furniture, appliances and more.  Many prices are discounted nearly 90% from normal retail, with many items marked at just 25 cents.

According to Mike Oleskow, President of Artlink and organizer of the sale, “This is a great opportunity for people to get incredible deals and support the Phoenix Arts community.  Proceeds help keep services like the First Friday shuttles running each month.  While free for First Friday participants who love using it to explore art and to get around Downtown, the shuttles are Artlink’s biggest expense each month.”

Artlink Phoenix is one of the oldest, all volunteer run, 501-C-3 arts organizations in downtown Phoenix. Its mission is to maintain and enhance regular events, including the monthly First Fridays art walk, the annual Art Detour self-guided tour, an annual Juried Exhibition and an art-related fundraiser.

For more information on Artlink, please visit artlinkphoenix.com.

From the Wire | Warehouse Clearance Sale To Benefit Artlink

Who: Morgan Meronk

Age: 27

Occupation: Still looking.

Where Spotted: Riding on Roosevelt St. near 1st St.

Why did you recently choose to move Downtown? I was in Scottsdale but I just like where the city is headed and there is such a different crowd here. I also think the nightlife is better.

Where do you like to explore? The other night I went to Film Bar for my first time . . . and I go to Carly’s a lot since it is near my home. Oh, and Sticky Fingers is just great!

Why do you choose to ride your bike around? It’s my transportation. I have been solely riding for about four years now, and it saves a lot of money.

How do you make riding a bike possible in the Arizona heat? I don’t wear black, and try to really only wear white or light colors. Sometimes for work I would bring a pair of clothes to change into, and sometimes I would soak my T-shirt in water and then it would dry by the time I would get to work.

What she’s wearing:

•  Target T-shirt

•  Hudson shorts cut from jeans

•  Movado watch face attached to an American Apparel headband

•  Chuck Taylor shoes

Her biking essentials:

•  La Jolla bike given to her by a friend

•  A stretchy belt used to hold her bike lock

Bike Chic | Morgan Meronk

SOME LIKE IT HAUTE!
6th Avenue Gallery issues summer challenge to Arizona fashion designers

Where’s the fashion inspiration when the mercury hits 110+ degrees (in the shade)? Only designers in Arizona’s desert heat can relate to our intense summers, and we want to showcase in Arizona’s hot design talent! 6th Avenue Gallery invites you and other local designers to inspire Arizonans to think beyond flip flops and tank tops with our upcoming “Some Like it Haute” summer show and sale.

We’re issuing a 110-degree challenge to you and other designers to conceptualize, design and create a hot and haute summer look that will be featured in the “Some Like it Haute” show that will debut on First Friday in June, and continue through July.

This is your opportunity to show and sell your wearable summer designs, while also enlightening audiences about the fashion design process. It’s our gallery’s opportunity to showcase and support local designers in the fashion industry.

The gallery reserves a 25% commission on any sales that are procured as a result of the show, so please keep this in mind when pricing your submission. We will be able to process orders for your fashions that evening, and through the duration of the show in June and July.

6th Avenue Gallery is located in downtown Phoenix in a building that also houses two powerhouse public relations agencies, so be assured that this show will be well publicized.  For more information, visit our website 6th Avenue Gallery.

See below for guidelines on participating!

Local designers rise to a 110-degree fashion challenge

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR PARTICIPATING FASHION DESIGNERS IN ARIZONA:

•    Contact BJC Public Relations by email (6thAvenueGallery@bjc.com) or phone (602) 277-9530, x-231 to let us know that you want to participate. If you have a resume and photo, please send both in an email. Otherwise we will contact you to get information for inclusion in our marketing and promotional outreach for the show.

•    Determine the summer look you will be showcasing, and if possible, capture your creative process along the way. Our show will feature notes, sketches, material samples, photos, and anything else that documents your work from the concept to completion. We request that your design(s) be unique to this show.

•    Complete the “Designer Information Form” (request this form when contacting the gallery).

•    Deliver your “Some Like it Haute” submission and “Designer Information Form” to:

BJC Public Relations
650 N. 6th Avenue (6th Ave. and McKinley, south of Roosevelt)
Phoenix, Arizona  85003
(602) 277-9530, x231

•    TIP #1: if you ship via FedEx – select the 3-day option – it’s cheaper and often arrives in a day.  Email or call BJC Public Relations with the TRACKING number of your shipment. Our email is: info@bjc.com

•    Submissions are due Friday, May 25.

•    Last but not least, please clear your calendar for Friday, June 1 for the First Friday debut of this show. We would like for all participating designers to be here when we debut and celebrate this unique summer art show.

From the Wire | Designers Wanted for ‘Some Like it Haute’ Fashion Show

“Turning Brown Lots Green”
Roosevelt Row Annual Fundraiser

Join a huge group of local artists, activists, gardeners, elected officials, and committed residents for one of downtown’s biggest annual parties!

Even better, join the party to support one of downtown Phoenix’s most dynamic organizations — Roosevelt Row, CDC, and its burgeoning A.R.T.S. (Adaptive Reuse of Temporary Space) Program.

The program turns empty dirt lots into amazing places like the Valley of the Sunflowers, the A.R.T.S. Market held on First and Third Fridays, the annual Pie Social, and Food Truck Festivals. With your help we will be able to activate additional vacant land in 2012!

Buying a $30 ticket entitles you to two of Bliss/ReBar’s delicious drinks and a smorgasbord of appetizers. Buying a $100 ticket will send you home after the event with a signed, limited edition lithograph by acclaimed local artist James Angel (right). An amazing raffle and silent auction will help cap off the night.

If you go

Event: Turning Brown Lots Green!

Date:  Monday, May 21, 2012

Time: 5:30 – 8:30pm

Location:  Bliss/ReBAR, 901 N. 4th Street, Phoenix AZ 85004

Tickets:  Buy tickets online $30, $100 (includes lithograph) All tickets include two drinks and complimentary appetizers.

Contact:  602.772.0083

All proceeds will support the A.R.T.S.  (Adaptive Reuse of Temporary Space) Programs. Programs include:  A.R.T.S. Gardens, Market, Sculpture and Film.

Honorary Host Committee
Mayor Greg Stanton • Vice-Mayor Michael Johnson • Councilman Tom Simplot • Senator Steve Gallardo • Senator Robert Meza • Senator David Lujan • Senator Leah Landrum Taylor • Representative Anna Tovar • Representative Martin Quezada • Representative Chad Campbell • Representative Debbie McCune-Davis • Representative Lela Alston • Representative Katie Hobbs • Representative Catherine Miranda • Representative Ruben Gallego

Host Committee
James Angel • Rhonda Bannard • Kenny Barrett • Rhonda Boyle • Eileen Brill-Wagner • Amy Buchan • Dorina Bustamanta • Hillary Butler • Cassidy Campana • Laura Capello • Kendra Cea • Alaina Chabrier • Charles J. Coughlin • Cindy Dach • Jennifer Delgado • Greg Ensell • Greg Esser • Rusty Foley • Francesca Godi • Shannon Goodman • Murphy Hebert • Amy Heisler • Nancy Hill • Jasmine Jarrett •  Patty Johnson • Don Keuth • Aaron Kimberlin • Andrew Knochel • Kim Larkin • Carla Logan Wade • Kali Miller • Frank McCune • Jim McPherson • Joe Murphy • Benah Parker • Vermon Pierre • Chris Pruitt • Alison Rainey • Lawrence Robinson • Shannon and Chip Scutari • Marshall Shore • Alisa Lyons Sloan • Eric Sloan • Nicole Underwood • Toby Urvater • Amber Williams •
• Eileen Yazzie • Daniel Zawisha •

Brought to you by
COX, APS and Highground Public Affairs Consultants

From the Wire | Community Invited to Help Turn Brown Lots Green

TWO HOMES ARE TOP PRIZE FOR NON-PROFIT FUNDRAISER

Grand Prize

Proceeds Support Summer Youth and Homeownership Programs that Benefit Phoenix Residents

The Capitol Mall Association (CMA) is spearheading a fundraising effort that will culminate in awarding homes to two lucky winners during a drawing to be held at CMA offices, on May 31, 2012.

The public will have an opportunity to win one of two grand prizes – a ready-to-live-in home, along with four other prizes included in the raffle.

CMA is a community-based non-profit development organization that provides affordable housing opportunities to first time homebuyers to re-establish inner city neighborhoods, supports neighborhood crime and blight reduction programs, as well as community service programs that help build a stronger sense of unity among the residents.

First Place Prize

“We’ve been able to acquire some great homes over the last year and we decided to create a fund raising campaign by raffling two of those properties. It is important to understand that approximately 86% of our fund raising dollars are reinvested into the communities where we work. Our focus this year is to support a free summer food program, a community recycling program, build a crosswalk, and install alley lighting for the safety of children and families,” said CMA Executive Director, Shannon Dubasik.

For a ticket price of $20 each or 6 for $100, everyone that enters is eligible to win:

•    Two homes (one located in the Central Phoenix area and one in the West Valley)
•    Two, 32″ Flat Screen LCD HDTV
•    Two, Stereo Shelf systems including amplifier, CD player and FM radio with 2-way speakers, built-in dock for Apple® iPod® or iPhone®
•    Three, Nikon Coolpix Digital Camera, and
•    Three, LCD Digital Photo Frame, 8″ or 9″ Screen

Tickets are available for sale online through May 29, 2012. For additional information, ticket purchases, and to view the fundraising video, visit the CMA website at www.capitolmall.org.

About Capitol Mall Association
Capitol Mall Association (CMA) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, governed by a Board of Directors comprised of residents, area property and business owners, and advisors from the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona. CMA primarily serves the downtown Phoenix neighborhoods bound by I-10 Freeway North and the railroad tracks South of Harrison Street; 27th Avenue to 7th Avenue. In 2007, the Board of Directors voted to expand CMA’s housing services mission city wide with a focus on underserved areas. For more information, visit their website.

From the Wire | Win a Home for 20 Bucks

Eighth Annual Certified Local Fall Festival Is On The Move!

New Downtown Phoenix location allows more space to showcase local business Phoenix, Arizona

After seven amazing years at the Duck & Decanter’s Camelback location, Local First Arizona’s annual festival of all things local will move to Downtown Phoenix’s Portland Place, a mini-park located on Portland Street between Third and Central Avenues. This beautiful green space will allow the Certified Local Fall Festival to better accommodate the many local businesses who want to be a part of the Festival as well as allow more room for attendees to stroll, shop, eat and be entertained in a unique urban setting. The Festival will be held on Saturday, November 10 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This transition is a big move for Local First Arizona and is indicative of the rapid growth of the organization. “The Mettlers, who own the Duck and Decanter, are like family to us – they have been with us through thick and thin and they are helping us with this transition because we have just outgrown the space at our old location. They are outstanding event organizers and we are so lucky to still have them with us,” explained Kimber Lanning, Director of Local First. “We fully expect to have the same vibe, but this will allow us to include more food, more retail, more local beers and wines – it will just be the next step for us to grow an already successful event.”

Voted “Best Free Festival” in 2011’s New Times Best Of Phoenix awards, this family-friendly festival has a street fair atmosphere and has drawn upwards of 6,000 attendees in past years. The event is open to the public and will offer a variety of local businesses, restaurants, live music and children’s activities. Previous vendors include a variety of businesses that are unique to Arizona like Bookmans, Practical Art, Zia Records, Frances Boutique, Smeeks Candy Shop, Kidstop Toys, Pink House Boutique, Strawberry Hedgehog, Desert Song Yoga, Noble Beast Pet Boutique, Hubbard Family Swim School, Postino, Spinato’s Pizza, The Parlor, St. Francis, Urban Cookies, America’s Taco Shop, Changing Hands Bookstore, and Green New American Vegetarian. This year’s event will add a food truck court, an expanded beer and wine garden and more fun arts, crafts and games for kids. Live music will be provided by Arizona musicians and the first 500 attendees will receive gift bags. A raffle and silent auction will raise funds for Local First and will include stay-cation packages from around the state, free dinners and tickets to Valley-wide events.

The event historically has been a great place to get a jump start on holiday shopping, while attendees can enjoy some of the Valley’s best restaurants, breweries and wineries. Bring the whole family, there’s something for everyone!

Event Details
What: 8th Annual Certified Local Fall Festival presented by Local First Arizona
When: Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Portland Place, on Portland Street between Third and Central Avenues, Downtown Phoenix
Cost: Free to attend. Admittance to Beer & Wine Garden is $10 which includes samples of a wide variety of Arizona beers & wines. Food will be available for $1 or less.

From the Wire | Certified Local Fall Festival to Move Downtown

The 90-minute dialogue between Rothko and his young assistant, Ken are the play. A rich, evocative, muscular play. Grand themes are intelligently and passionately discussed: generational conflict, the meaning of color, the power of non-representational painting to seep into the unconscious, art history debated and lived through in a way that kept me spellbound, and random acts of gratuitous carnage. Art still had revolutionary potential to Rothko’s generation.

A tale well told. It originated in London in 2009, the production captured six Tonys on Broadway in 2010, and different productions were seen Saturday night in four different cities – Berkeley, CA, Hartford, CT, Phoenix, AZ and Dunedin, NZ. Phoenix’s entry is a production of Seattle Repertory Company, a worthy partner.

Two quibbles about it, though. At one point the sound technician forgot to lower the music volume as Rothko (played competently by Denis Arndt in his Phoenix debut) began a soliloquy. Arndt had to repeat his opening line several times before the music came down. Voices are not amplified, and neither actor consistently projects his voice clearly deep into the balcony seating. So if you go, stay in the orchestra.

If you go

You can leverage your investment in “Red’ theater tickets at a number of Valley locations during the production – and “Paint the Town Red!”

Arizona Theatre Company has gathered partners to offer a wide variety of incentives. Two bookstores are raffling off free tickets; District American Kitchen, Coronado Cafe and Gallo Blanco are offering discounts; and several benefits are also available at Phoenix Art Museum and more.

The production runs through May 20. Visit Arizona Theatre Company for details.

Arizona Theatre Company Serves a Full-Bodied ‘Red’

DPJ music blogger Erin Bartynski sat down with three of the six members (Israel Whittermore, vocals/guitar, Brian Whitman, producer/keyboard/guitar, and Tim Rahman, drums) over a pistachio-and-onion (the “Rosa”) pizza at Pane Bianco, to talk about the up-and-coming band, the competition, and their take on the Phoenix music scene.

About The Alchemy Heart

 
DPJ: Tell me about The Alchemy Heart. Online, you have the same bio on everything — your Twitter, your Facebook page, your Reverb Nation website –

Brian Whitman: What is our bio? What does it say?

Tim Rahman: Yes, please, read the bio.

Israel Whittermore: (Laughing) Great you guys, we look real professional already. While pulling out his iPhone and searching the web, he explained he and band member Josh came up with it while writing music together over Skype. He was in Phoenix, and Josh was in Kansas for school. Then he read the bio out loud: “A few guys who dream of playing music that changes someone’s life, if only for a second. We want to create something that is hopefully honest, a little original and simply honey to the ears.”

The idea was, you’ve been in these moments, whether it’s music or whatever inspires you, where it feels like everything just comes together, If you’re watching an artist, it’s like, this is what they were made for. So that’s the idea behind the bio: we want to create those moments.

Brian: Aw, that’s beautiful. I’m inspired.

DPJ: How did the band get started?

Israel: We all, throughout the years, have played together in one way or another, whether it was in church functions or in other bands or just writing together. Josh and I have known each other a long time — he’s from here — and it kinda worked out where he left (for school in Kansas) and that’s when we decided to start doing stuff. He comes back for big performances.

Brian: I was initially just the producer, and then I started to play keys a little bit at the shows that Josh couldn’t make it to.

DPJ: How long has the band been together?

Israel: We played a show in June last year together at this little dive bar, and it was good, we got a lot of positive feedback. Our first official show was at the Hard Rock here (in downtown Phoenix) on August 27^th 2011. That was a big show,  we sold out the Hard Rock…

Tim: Yeah, Israel has a lot of friends.

Israel: …but because of the distance thing, we’ve only played five shows together since.

DPJ: So what should your fans know about you that isn’t in The Alchemy Heart’s bio?

Brian: I think the cool thing about The Alchemy Heart is…obviously it’s driven by Israel. He’s the primary song writer, but everyone who comes and plays in the band..we were already pretty much friends to begin with. So it wasn’t like trying to hire guys out, [but] more like asking your friends to play with you. Which is maybe why it’s so enjoyable.

Tim: I think the reason it works is because we all musically had the same background (playing church music), so we all approached music from the same vantage point, as far as what works and energy and all that kind of stuff. We all came in and put our on spin on it, but it all generally worked together just cause we kind of approached it similarly. We didn’t have any rough moments.

Israel: I’ve always felt like its easier to work with musicians if you can just trust them from the beginning, so for me, even though they’re songs that I’ve written, I’ve never felt worried. Like, Tim is an amazing drummer so I just know Tim’s gonna do it, he’s gonna feel it, he’s gonna hear it, and it’s the same way with Brian and it’s the same with Alex. I trust it’s gonna work. They’re all incredibly talented guys. I’ve always said the way you make yourself look good is to surround yourself with better people…

Tim: Better looking people.

Israel: …and to be able to go, “I don’t know if that works,” or “Let’s try this instead,” and no one feels like you’re going to hurt someone’s feelings.

Tim: Everyone in the band is individually really talented. So everybody has nothing to prove.

Brian: We take it seriously but we also just like to play. And we’d like to play in London.

The Hard Rock Rising Competition

 
DPJ: Speaking of London, how did you guys initially hear about the competition?

Israel: We had played the Hard Rock before, so one of the managers had emailed me. Also, IAMWE, the band who took second place last year are also from here, and one of them had said it would be a great opportunity for us to maybe get some exposure.

DPJ: So once you made it past the live performance battle rounds at the Hard Rock Cafe with the judges, it was up to Facebook voters to put you in the top ten. How did you encourage people to vote for you?

Brian: (Laughing) We literally harassed people. The last couple of hours we literally called people on the phone walking them through with a laptop, having them log in to Facebook and vote.

Israel: After the first week it was not looking good, we were getting destroyed and were thousands of votes behind. But then we realized, the only thing standing between us and the guys who judge this final round is basically us. It really came down to how bad do we want it and what does it take to start getting votes. So we sent out like 22,000 emails, Facebook messages, tweets, all of the above.

Tim: The day when we really started coming back in the running, I remember getting some really frantic texts from Israel. He was losing his mind, saying “Oh my God guys, oh my God guys, it’s down to only a couple hundred, do what you have to, anything goes!”

Israel: I went to the hard rock at 5:30 p.m. and was literally standing on a table, and it was packed because of the diamondbacks game, and they gave me a microphone and I started explaining, this is the deal, this is how close we are, we could be one of ten bands in the world to have this opportunity. And that’s when we started calling everyone. My sister was even like, “I’ve had 10 people tell me to vote for your band. It’s my brother, of course I’ve voted for him!” In four days, we went from 52nd to 7th. We ended up in 8th place.

Brian: I just remember telling Israel when we got in the top ten, you know what, now, I don’t mind if we don’t win. Because it’s judged on musicianship and it’s not just internet votes, so if we don’t win it’s kind of because of who we are and that it wasn’t what they were looking for. We can almost lose with dignity now.

Unfortunately, The Alchemy Heart did not win the trip and performance in London. However, you can catch them at the Sail Inn on Friday May 11 for their CD release party. Doors are at 8 p.m., and the boys from The Alchemy Heart will be joined by other local bands The Cold Desert, IAMWE, Dr. Bones, The Buxtons, and Future Loves Past.

The day after the announcement was made, Israel emailed us the band’s reaction: As far as the Hard Rock Calling competition goes, obviously we are bummed. However, from the beginning we always felt that we would give our best and have no regrets. It has been an incredible, crazy and sometimes anxious journey and we have learned a lot, we have connected and met some great people and more people have heard our music because of it. So we can’t complain. Now we our just looking towards the release party and then we will see what happens after that!

On Downtown Phoenix: Favorite Spots and the Local Music Scene

 
DPJ: What’s your favorite downtown Phoenix hangout, since you all live and work around downtown and central Phoenix?

Brian: I like Cibo, it’s probably my favorite restaurant to just go and enjoy a night.

Tim: Thai Basil – I was just there today, I had panang!

Israel: We hit up Seamus McCaffrey’s quite a bit. We like Irish and British pubs

Brian: If you ever wanna find The Alchemy heart, check Hazelwoods. Or Rose and McCaffery’s.

DPJ: What do you think about the scene in downtown Phoenix these days?

Brian: Phoenix the past year or so has really just exploded with people and viability, it’s not just First Fridays that people go out for anymore, there’s people out all the time now which is great.

Israel: The funny thing is, we’d go to Austin for a festival or Chicago for a festival and we’d look around and wonder, why doesn’t Phoenix have this culture? It’s not the people, people want it. Literally in the last couple years we’ve seen downtown and even Tempe change some, and it’s bringing out a lot of good musicians over the last year. I feel like I’ve seen this Phoenix music scene really kind of blossom, where all of a sudden it’s like, ‘woah those guys are local?’ So that’s been great.

Listen Up PHX | The Alchemy Heart Earn Top 10 Spot in Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands