Voting has closed in the Arizona Republic’s online poll to determine the best local bands in metro Phoenix, and congratulations are in order for Bethany Home, who emerged as clear winners with 25.5% of the vote.
Rounding out the Top 5, in order, were Dorsten, The Joeys, Practically People and Victoria Bigelow. You can see the full results in the original story.
The top vote-getters have now moved on to the first round of our online-only Battle of the Bands, a March Madness bracket-style poll that you can vote on here.
Voting closes at 9:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
So how did we get here?
Readers were given a choice of 60 candidates in that initial poll, which may seem a lot of names; yet it barely scratched the surface of our vibrant local music
scene, so much so that a number of my favorite bands were not included.
That’s why we reserved two spots for write-in candidates in this round of our Battle of the Bands. Those write-in candidates are Prince Mirth and The Rebel Set. JAM Now and Kregg also earned a respectable number of write-in votes.
Maybe next year we can start with even more names on the ballot. I know I would like that.
How we assembled that list of 60 names on the initial ballot
This is how we came up with that list of 60 names that started this process.
We reached out to DJs known to celebrate the local scene at KWSS-FM and ALT AZ for nominations. We also checked in with a couple club owners to see if they had any thoughts on who should be included, which they did.
We also did our best to include the most popular bands in town. But only within reason.
You may notice that a number of the most beloved bands in metro Phoenix aren’t included on this ballot.
That’s because when we assembled that initial list, we ruled out acts whose popularity is such that while we do reserve the right to take great pride in their success, it could be argued that their fame transcends the concept of what people mean when they say local music.
This is why Jimmy Eat World, The Maine, and Authority Zero to name a few, are nowhere to be found. It could be argued that a few acts on this list are awfully close to being in that category. Judgement calls were made.
We also did our best not to include musicians or bands who moved away after getting their start on local stages, although a few bands did sneak through because we didn’t know they’d moved. We knew Robin Wilson, Jesse Valenzuela, Nate Reuss and Jim Dalton don't live here. So The Format, Gin Blossoms and Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers all had two reasons not to be included on the ballot.
Artists averaging just one show a year were also not included. You had to be at least a little active.
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What happens next in the Arizona Republic Battle of the Bands
The winners of these matchups will advance to the next round of voting with only eight bands in the running. The following round will be four. And so it goes.
The eventual winner of the final round will be featured in a USA TODAY Network Acoustic mini-concert filmed at The Arizona Republic.
As to those among you who would tell us art is not a contest, I say, “This, however, is a contest.” May the best band win.
Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more. He did the same in Pittsburgh for more than a decade. Follow him on X and Instagram @edmasley and on Facebook as Ed Masley. Email him at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote now on the local band in Phoenix. Meet the bands in the Sweet 16
