Music

Sound Check

May 1, 2021 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Live entertainment venues test demand; some concerts have limited capacity.

Music and dancing has returned to the Quad Cities area and is starting to return to the Flagstaff area, with a lot more planned for May. The scheduling of more live music gives musicians, venue owners and customers hope for the future.

Prescott area venues never totally shut down the music during the pandemic, but solos or duos were playing instead of bands, and there was no dancing on the dance floor, per the safety protocols in place.

Sidekicks Lounge in Prescott Valley and Jersey Lilly on the square in Prescott are just two places where the owners are thrilled to be in the process of bringing music back to normal levels. Other entertainment venues, like the Highlands Center for Natural History, are also bringing back music.

The Northern Arizona Blues Alliance will host the first annual Greater Prescott Valley Blues Festival in the Prescott Valley Amphitheater from 1-9 p.m., Saturday, May 22. The lineup includes national acts such as Kat Riggs and Jimmy Carpenter, as well as local performers Ray DeSylvester, Leon J, Dr. Bob Sellani, Christian Berry, Paul Epoch, Tommy Dukes, Darryl Poras and Sir Harrison.

Mortimer Farms in Dewey has scheduled its Friday Night Barn Dance and dinner from May 7 to Oct. 30.

The Highlands Center for Natural History has scheduled its monthly concert series starting May 28, starting with Art Podell, one of the original musicians with the New Christie Minstrels. The Acoustic Eidolon duo will perform July 2. Prescott folk band Ponderosa Grove will perform July 24. Shakespeare in the Pines is scheduled during the middle two weeks in August and Acoustic Blues is on the calendar for Sept. 24.

Folk Sessions at the Highlands Center for Natural History has its ninth annual Americana Music Fest set for July 22, featuring “Southwestern Americana,” tales of Nancy Elliot, the Robby Robertson Trio and the Valley’s Hambone. Concert host Highlands Center Marketing and Communications Coordinator Tom Agostino said the pandemic impacted the center quite a bit. “We had to cancel our summer series last year,” he said.

This season, they will sell 70 tickets for each show, as compared to 120 for each show before the pandemic.

Laura Lee Morgan, who, with her husband, John, owns Sidekicks Saloon in Prescott Valley, said the community needs live music because people thrive on interaction. “It was depressing not having it,” she said. “It’s great having it back. That’s why we’re in the business.”

Jersey Lilly Saloon owner Josh Makrauer says that although the past year has been difficult, as the venue lost about 50% of its business, he is excited to be able to provide some fun music for the patrons.

Sidekicks has live bands every Saturday and karaoke on Friday and Sunday nights. The schedule for Saturdays in May has Parker Jenkins on May 8, Shake of Yesterday on May 15, Hit Squad on May 22 and Honey Girl on May 29.

Jersey Lilly has music almost every night. Sky performs every Tuesday, Little Larry every Thursday and there are jam sessions every Wednesday. Bands perform every weekend, with Hit Squad the first weekend in May, Combo Deluxe the second weekend in May, Little Larry and the Drive the third weekend in May, the Tone Kings the fourth weekend in May and Well Dressed Wolves the last weekend in May. Weekend shows are from 7-10 p.m.; weekday shows 8-10 p.m., and Sunday solos perform from 4-7 p.m. QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Downtown Entertainment District Approved by City

September 7, 2017 By quadcities Leave a Comment

City of Prescott officials believe the newly designated “Downtown Entertainment District” will provide more opportunities for businesses to grow and expand in the central core of Prescott.

“I think it’s the right place to be – in the heart of Prescott near the iconic Courthouse Square that is recognized across the state and country as being unique in American cities,” said Kendall Jaspers, executive director of the Prescott Downtown Partnership. “By law, a city can have only one designated entertainment area, so the only logical place in Prescott was that approved by the City Council. The city did the right thing.”

Andre DeFrietas, a co-owner of the Jersey Lilly Saloon, said he was hopeful the descriptor would result in more statewide and regional awareness for Prescott, especially the block-long stretch of buildings known as Whiskey Row on Montezuma Street. “If more visitors and tourists learn about us because of the new district, then everyone downtown will benefit.”

The formal designation, which describes an area a bit more than one square half mile, is roughly boundaried by Sonora and Granite Creek on the north to Audrey on the south; and Sixth Street and Alarcon on the east to Summit and McCormick on the west.

Kendall said he did not envision any immediate major changes, but instead, thought it would give merchants and businesses in the District a chance to strategically plan opportunities for branding and marketing. “Our board for the Prescott Downtown Partnership did not take a formal vote, but the strong general feeling is supportive,” he said.

Among the biggest changes that result from the designation is the possible waiver of current requirements of a 300-foot buffer between churches and schools from places that serve liquor, explained City Attorney Joe Paladini. He said that buffer allows the city to consider waivers by examining each situation or request individually. He added the new designation makes possible a downtown arts, entertainment and cultural venue.

“Now that the District has been approved by the City Council, it is technically in place,” said City of Prescott Community Outreach Manager John Heiney. “People need to know that before the question went to City Council, staff members, including me, spent hours visiting with all businesses within the proposed district to educate them and to get their opinions. The majority were supportive. We now have a defined entertainment area which allows the city to market and promote it as such. It is generally seen as business friendly. It allows the City Council to approve unique business concepts on a case-by-case basis.”

Jaspers’s and Heiney’s opinions came after unanimous approval of the concept by the Prescott City Council during its Aug. 8 meeting. QCNM

By Ray Newton, QCBN

(Photo by Ray Newton)

Restauranteur Serving Fun, Food, Music

August 12, 2016 By quadcities 1 Comment

Looking for a lively, quirky place to sit down, have a wonderful meal and listen to music? Barry Barbe will direct you to El Gato Azul in Prescott.

“We are not pretentious,” said Barbe, the restaurant’s owner. “We don’t take ourselves very seriously.”

In fact, the only thing they take seriously is their food.

Bistro style, it features tapas for everyone from hard core carnivores to vegans.

“What you are eating looks great. It puts people together in a fun atmosphere.”

Barbe suggests one to two tapas per person, which encourages sharing and conversation with other diners.

“It’s a great place to go if you’re from out of town,” he said.

The building itself resembles a whimsical house straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, but The Cat in the Hat does not live here. No. Benny, el gato azul, lives here as the mascot. Barbe describes him as “a cat of intrigue and mystery.” Benny appears on all marketing materials and even sponsors movie nights.

“People recognize our cat.”

El Gato Azul is a high-volume restaurant with 30 employees. There are 24 seats inside the restaurant a covered patio, with 30 seats and other outside seating for an additional 50. When all those seats are filled, it is really hopping.

“It’s insane. It is nuts,” he said. “The minute you walk through the door, it is on. The person who comes to the table the first time is the only person you are going to see. People just love our servers. By the time they are done with the meal, they know that person. It is not formal at all.”

Still, it embraces traditional dining.

“Every meal was at the table with my family and grandma’s on Sunday,” he said. “You passed the green beans and talked about what happened during the day,” he said.

Growing up in Ohio, Barbe experienced life in a small, typical northeastern town.

“There were 45 kids in my graduating class. I walked to school every day. We had a huge garden, which was necessary because of the large family of seven,” he said.

Not much into sports, Barbe says he was a “music geek.”

“I was in band, choir and drama,” he said.

In his junior year, he developed problems with polyps on his vocal cords, which had to be removed and changed his career path, although he still sings at the restaurant.

Barbe graduated from culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in South Carolina in 1990.

After graduation, he worked in the restaurant industry, managing bars, restaurants and a number of resort departments.

“I like working with people and having a vision.”

When Barbe and his wife, Lori, wanted to move west, they initially considered Colorado. But “it was cold and it snowed a lot,” he said.

Because Lori is from Mesa, they began looking at Arizona. They chose Prescott in 1998.

“In Prescott, we have the four seasons. You get some snow, but it only lasts a day or two,” he said. “The climate and the community are amazing.”

And it was a good place to raise their four kids: Audrey, 22; Jacob, 19; Hannah, 16; and Simon, 14.

Right away, he opened five restaurants and a management company to oversee them. Things were going fine until the economy crashed.

Barbe sold all the restaurants except for El Gato Azul.

“I think we all need a little place to go to relax and have fun,” he said. “Who cares if you have red wine with your fish?”

Besides the food, El Gato Azul features local musicians and artists.

Barbe says he enjoys serving the community in more ways than one. He is on the board of directors for the Coalition for Compassion and Justice, which strives to eradicate homelessness.

What advice would you give someone just starting out in your business?

“Be committed to your concept. Have adequate funding and an exit plan. If it does not work, have a time when you draw the line. It’s okay to walk away if it’s not working.”

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given and who gave it to you?

“When things were getting tough, I took it upon myself to reach out to five prominent business owners in this community. I was willing to ask and listen and take advantage of mentors.”

When was the last time you laughed hard?

“Like, all the time. There will be something stupid or silly at the restaurant or something my kids say. You have to laugh all the time; otherwise, what is the point?”

What is your favorite movie?

“’Benny & Joon’ is really funny. I saw it on the first date with my wife.”

What qualities do you look for in people who work for you?

“We don’t look at the résumé. We look for personality, a person who is genuine, good hearted and community minded. Everything else we can take of in-house. If you come in with those traits, we can take care of the rest.”

El Gato Azul is located at 316 W. Goodwin St., open at 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, and noon on the weekends. For more information, call 928-445-1070 or visit elgatoazulprescott.com. QCBN

By Patty McCormac

Making Music in His Corner of the World

October 11, 2015 By quadcities Leave a Comment

It may seem as though John’s Corner Music Shop is new.

It is not.

It’s been around for at least eight years, but it moved few years ago and it is a little hard to find. If a person is looking for a brick and mortar music shop on a corner of a street, it won’t be found. The business is inside the Back Street Indoor Flea Market on Second Street.

“It looks new. It seems new, but we’ve been here for a long time. It has been remodeled here recently,” said its owner, John Hale.

Hale first opened his store in 2008 at the Indoor Swap Meet in Prescott Valley.

“I sold a lot of stuff, including instruments. It was called John’s Corner. In 2010, we moved to the location where we are now, “he said.

Here, he claimed a corner inside the Back Street Indoor Flea Market on Second Street.

“I still have the original location and use it for storage,” he said.

On first glance, Hale’s shop looks like an average music store. But a closer look reveals Hale, a self-proclaimed eBay junkie, makes musical instruments out of other people’s junk.

“I build stuff out of junk like my Stratacaster,” he said. “I took the top out of a wine box and made a guitar out of a wine box and sold it to someone for about $110.”

He offers all sorts of odd-looking contraptions made into musical instruments.“Originals from the old south, people used to make instruments of boxes and boards,

whatever they had,” he said.

The store also sells everything a musician needs.

In his shop, one will see various guitars, mandolins and banjos. There is also a wall of string instruments, speakers, effects pedals, keyboards, drums, violins and ukuleles – all in various sizes.

The shop also sells supplies needed by musicians such as strings, reeds and the likes.

“We sell everything except for pianos,” he said. “If it is something I have that I had not had before [as a trade-in], like a glockenspiel, we offer it to the public as well.”

Previously, Hale had a forensic lab for 40 years, where he did forensic document analysis for law enforcement until 2012.

“This is my retirement hobby – I’d rather work with musicians than lawyers, but some of the lawyers are my friends and customers,” he said.

It was a lifelong desire to learn to play the guitar, but he is left-handed and it proved too difficult.

So, Hale gets a lot of pleasure from helping kids.

“I will tell you this,” said Lee Power. “He is a major supporter of the Prescott Opry. He was one of our first sponsors. He paid for the banner that hangs on the marquee at the Elks Theater in Prescott. He has donated a couple of guitars for a raffle. For us, he has been a good guy.”

Power is president of the opry’s parent organization, the Greater Arizona Country and Western and Swing Music Association.

The Prescott Opry offers a “Toe tappin’ Boot Stompin’ Good Time,” for country music fans. It also offers support for kids.

“The Generations program is for kids 12 to about 17 years old,” he said. “When I can, I donate to the kids.”

“John Hale is a genuinely soft spoken, sincere and kind man who is more than generous,” said Jennifer Ward of the Elks Theater. “In conjunction with The Prescott Opry, John gifted my children each a guitar and lessons, in order to ensure that they were able to play an instrument, whether for fun or to share with the community. John has gifted employees who are also willing to help in any way possible. For anyone looking for a music store or lessons, I would certainly recommend John and his staff.”

He has the most fun just making “stuff” out of junk – someone else’s trash – and then provide it to people for nothing.

“I like to teach kids how to build stuff like that,” he said.

And from time to time, “real, live musicians come in.”

He says that the store is a gathering place for an inviting people to come in, sit and play and try new genres and instruments.

His friend and helper, Chris Buskirk, a songwriter and working musician, volunteers at the store.

The store is at 7359 Second Street in Prescott Valley. QCBN

To learn more, call 928-775-9225.

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