Saturday, September 26, 2009

A Bone To Pick With The Phoenix New Times

So, this week's edition of the Phoenix New Times came out this yesterday morning. With leaving for Kansas City early yesterday morning, I tried, but failed to find the Best Local Band category.

With a bit more time tonight to search around, I've found - with disappointing, though somewhat expected results - Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers took the title. Of course, this isn't that surprising - for reasons that are the same as why I have a bone to pick with the New Times. Firstly, pitting them The band firstly has been around for 11 years. Secondly, the band has an organized (albeit not as organized as years ago) online community - which was informed to vote for the band. Which is fine, but it's kinda ridiculous of the New Times to pit the likes of Roger Clyne The & Peacemakers against the truly local bands like Strange Young Things, Sugar Thieves and the other nominees who I'm not even familiar with.

My biases aside against Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers and pro Strange Young Things aside. it really makes this such a pointless category, and kind of misguided I think. Clearly the definition of "local band" is not restricted to acts with national wide reach, and given that, why not just put the Gin Blossoms in the nominations - who would similarly crush these really "local" bands. Maybe next year they should great a second category "Best National Local Band" so that there is at least some competition and worth to the "Best Local Band" category.

Rant ended. But let me say that Strange Young Things are by far the best local band of 2009 in my mind!

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