WELCOME TO HOMEGROWN!
A Local Music Segment airing every Monday through Friday at 11pm w/ Mo!
Like one of one the bands we’re featuring this week on ALT AZ 93.3? Vote to hear their song again for the Friday replay at the bottom of the page!
Tuesday:
Arizona garage rockers Gorky started in 2001 as the solo music project of writer, actor, and singer-guitarist Jesse Valencia, author of ‘Straight Up And Down With The Brian Jonestown Massacre.’ Ben Holladay joined on drums a year later and has been the only other consistent member throughout the group’s 15-year history. Valencia, who made his big-screen film debut in 2015 opposite Tom Sizemore in Travis Mills’ crime drama “Durant’s Never Closes,” named the band after a childhood friend’s pet name for her comfort blanket.
The band re-released their albums “High In The Low” and “The Deuces” in 2016, and have made significant headway in the contemporary indie rock scene, appearing onstage alongside acts such as Joel Gion, Matt Hollywood, and The Myrrors. Lead guitarist Houston Ellsworth (a.k.a. Chief Swiftwater) joined in 2012 and bassist Tevin Crabdree joined in 2014, the year Gorky released their first single, “#Datass.” On July 4, 2015 the band released their second single, “Super Drunk,” and are currently at work at various records. You can catch Gorky playing Show Low Days June 4th and on Facebook and Instagram. Check out their song Megalodon, then if ya love it, scroll to the bottom and give em your vote for the Friday Replay!
Wednesday:
Catchy with heart; Devoted with guts; Always ready for a party.
A Step Ahead is, in one word, undeniable.
Call it what you want—pop-punk, easycore, or just straight rock and roll—whatever it is, heads are turned and eyebrows are raised in the most-approving way each and every time the Arizona band takes the stage. A Step Ahead’s immediately-appealing sound and fun-as-hell live performance is already demanding attention from all within earshot, and the best is yet to come.
A.S.A. has endured it all as a band, and it comes out in their music. To date, the band has released five studio EP’s, embarked on numerous DIY tours with shows in over 50 cities across the U.S., met thousands of incredible supporters, found out what it’s like to be broker-than-broke, experienced heartache, and had the best damn time while going through it all. Throughout everything, the band has only become stronger and is as poised as ever to break through to the next level. For every time a fan sings the words to a song at a show, makes a comment on the band’s Facebook page, or tells their friend about “that new A Step Ahead jam,” they are reinvigorated.
A Step Ahead is Colin, Nick, Mike, Brian, and Matt, but more than that, A Step Ahead is about you and for you. You can catch A Step Ahead on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Preview their song “There’s Something About Mary”, then vote to hear it again on Friday’s Replay edition of Homegrown, at the bottom of the page.
Thursday:
EL WEST symbolizes energy. This platform has developed into dynamic composition, truthful lyrics and a distinctive energetic performance. The music has effortless swell that can turn on you at any moment from a lifting bravado to a faint hum. Inspired by bands such as Broken Social Scene, Radiohead, Muse, and Arctic Monkeys, EL WEST has created its own compelling and original sound. You can catch El West live at The Rhythm Room May 25th and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Soundcloud. Preview their new song “Rose Letter A” then if ya love it, scroll to the bottom to vote for it for the Friday Replay.