It’s a bizarre image to conjure. Your office — the place you crunch numbers, make phone calls and write up reports — is filled with strangers sitting on the ground. Amps, microphones and instruments line one side of the room, ready for musicians who are about to perform.
Since 2010, Sofar Sounds has provided communities with an interesting notion: Virtually any place can be turned into a concert venue. Since the idea’s inception, the organization has taken off globally, bringing intimate performances to non-traditional spaces anywhere from its birthplace in London to Rio de Janeiro, Dubai and New York, among others, according to the group’s website.
Performers in atypical venues include Hozier, Bastille and Vanessa Carlton — all thanks to one organization.
Now, this concept has come to the Valley.
When Sofar Sounds communications director Cat Martinez and her wife moved to Phoenix, their positive experiences with Sofar Sounds Dallas prompted them to help expand the network to Arizona.
In August 2015, the new Sofar Sounds chapter had its inaugural show in downtown Phoenix, led by Martinez and her wife, Lisa Martinez, who now acts as the chapter’s program coordinator. One of the performers, Korbe Canida, was stunned to see the changes that Sofar Sounds brought into the performance atmosphere, as all attention was solely focused on her.
“The concept of being able to actually listen quietly and hear everything coming from the artists is phenomenal,” Cat Martinez said. “It’s just music from a different perspective.”
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When I heard Sofar Phoenix would be hosting a show on Jan. 23, I immediately signed up for a ticket. With house shows on the rise, I assumed I would be visiting a stranger’s living room. However, the day before the show, an even more intriguing location was announced: CO+HOOTS, a shared office space in the downtown area.
The lineup, which I would find out on the day of the show, would include Chad Gregory, Celebration Guns, Hey, King! and Maggie Szabo.
As people crowded around the front of the room, taking places next to computer desks and sitting knee-to-knee, the show began — not with music, but with an introduction by energetic host and YouTube personality K. Short. There were only a few rules to follow; the no talking rule is an integral part of the music-focused environment.
Local country artist Chad Gregory was the first performer up. The acoustic set emphasized the power of his voice and his experience with guitar. His talent was especially prevalent in his performance of “Shotgun Ghost,” a fast-paced (and catchy) rock-inspired song that displayed the satisfying grittiness of his raw vocals.
It was surprising to me, after witnessing the strength of his songwriting skills, that I had never heard of Gregory before, but I supposed this was exactly what Sofar Phoenix was founded to do: help community members discover new musicians. That, and allowing audience members to share beers with musicians like Chad Gregory.
Maddie Szabo, a Canadian musician with thousands of subscribers on YouTube, would be the next performer. As she set up, Short returned to the stage with a question to prompt attendees to converse with strangers in the room. With just one piece of instruction from a leader in the room, it was interesting to see how many strangers could find commonalities or enjoyment with others in a relatively short amount of time. This would become a trend during each intermission.
Szabo was as impressive in her live performance as in her recorded music. Playing an acoustic version of her single “Tidal Waves and Hurricanes,” the singer demonstrated vocal variety, allowing the song to sound like a hit-worthy radio play.
Local band Celebration Guns provided the most unique acoustic sounds of the Sofar Phoenix event, translating their self-proclaimed “noisy pop” songs into smooth, melodic pieces without erasing the energy within their music. This was most prevalent in the band’s performance of “The Volunteer.” Their closing song also challenged traditional images of acoustic music, creating an incredible performance of what should now be called a ‘noisy acoustic’ genre.
Hey, King! was the last group to perform, bringing the audience to life with an edgy performance of “Stories To Tell At Sea” that was captivating from beginning to end. To conclude the show, the band allowed the crowd to create the rhythm to match the haunting vibes behind their song “Half Alive.”
When speaking to K. Short after the show, she said the words that I couldn’t have expressed better myself:
“I think everyone should attend these, because it brings back the feel of music and why we all love it. It’s very unplugged, it’s raw, it’s very personal and it’s relatable. It’s something that we’re not experiencing in the Phoenix area right now, especially with the big concerts and all the noise. This breaks it down and tears it down to what we’re all here for: a love of music.”
The next Sofar Phoenix event will be held Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.
Contact the columnist at Emily.Liu@asu.edu
