Here in the big, bad Phoenix metro area, a lot of people are a-flutter about Modified Arts getting out of the live music game to focus on art. From the way people are acting, out-of-town folks might get the impression that Modified was some sort of influential, state-of-the-art epicenter of rockin’ awesomeness.
Sorry, folks, but I’m here to burst your bubble. It was nearly exclusively indie hipster music. It has it’s place, but it’s not my bag.
While Modified is basking in all this attention, there are plenty of great venues in this area where bands can really rock. But they consistently and constantly get overlooked. The one I’m thinking about right now is Smokey’s Bar & Grill in Mesa.
Now this isn’t the sort of place from which the second coming of The Strokes or The White Stripes will emerge. This is a place where people who love rockin’ it up will feel at home. If you love AC/DC, if you lost your virginity to Motley Crue (any way you care to interpret that), if you listen to Pantera while working on your Hog - then this is your place. If you’re not hearing covers from bands like these, you’re hearing originals written by bands who love this sort of stuff … just like you do.
Here are 5 reasons you should visit Smokey’s Bar & Grill:
1. It’s all genuine - Nobody’s there to impress each other … unless they’re doing it on the pool table. It’s the antidote to all the funny-haircutted, Botoxed and pretentious places littering the Valley.
2. It’s friendly - Every time I’m here, at least one complete stranger strikes up a conversation with me. The staff is also as accommodating as can be.
3. There’s no cover - You know those guys at Yucca Tap Room? It’s the same there. They get good bands, and people come for the good bands.
4. One of the best promoters in town books the bands - Bill from Dirty Goat Productions handles the bands, and he picks bands he can count on to deliver good music.
5. You’re more likely to see Harleys in the parking lot than Scions or Cubes - And those Harleys will often be ridden by the very dudes who modified them.
In the quest to turn music into something grandiose and political, places like Smokey’s get overlooked. Let’s not forget: Music is supposed to be fun! The next time you have the urge to see some live bands that love what they do and exist to rock your world, go check Smokey’s out. Hung Dynasty has made a few visits there, and we hope to do even more in the future. We just had a great show there Saturday - all our originals, plus classic metal/rock tunes like “Breakin’ the Law,” “Seek and Destroy,” “TNT” and even “Comfortably Numb” to slow things down a notch. Next time, we’d love to see even more rock fans out there to help us bring the noise as much as possible.
One more thing: As a musician, I love playing here. It might not be the greatest sound system or best-lit stage. But there’s a a great vibe to the place, and the crew of regulars appreciates hard-hitting rock music. And that makes it fun for me to be there.
