Meet Josh Rodriguez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Rodriguez.

Josh, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up around music, I was late to learning instruments and honestly never considered music being a big part of my life – just a part of it. It mostly started around 2000, while I was going to Glendale Community College. I found myself not enrolling so I could focus on all the shows I was booking for friend’s bands that were coming in from out of town – that helped me with booking tours and playing out of town with my bands.

Since I played music, it was hard for me to consider myself a promoter – so I didn’t. I had done shows (and 1st shows) for bands like As I Lay Dying, Bury Your Dead, Between The Buried and Me, Terror, Norma Jean, Underoath, Copeland, Hellogoodbye, Mae, Saxon Shore (a band J. Tillman aka Father John Misty played drums in), Anatomy of A Ghost (featuring John Gourley of Portugal The Man) and did shows for legends like Mock Orange and Anal Cunt to name a few. Eventually, I gave in and called myself a promoter, since I wasn’t playing music as much but had a show at least once a week. After years of learning the ropes and growing with and learning with friends that also booked shows (like Psyko Steve, Will Anderson and Michelle Donovan from Luckyman Concerts at the time, and Jeremiah Gratza who now works for Stateside Presents) I found myself taking on the challenge of managing a band. The first band was Job For A Cowboy.

Job For A Cowboy were kids that would come out to my shows and with no experience of managing bands I told them “unless we make money, I’m not taking any money”. From the years of promoting, booking, designing art for band merch, I was able to help them create and follow (what I call) the strategy. The band’s hard work to write and perform to the best of their ability was what allowed that strategy to succeed. Myspace was the big social media site at the time, but none of us knew what would happen when they eventually released a track they had just put out.

Similar to the current SoundCloud rap phenomenon, Job For A Cowboy’s Knee Deep was getting massive numbers in plays, and attention. This led to the band having a very successful career and seeing dreams we had all imagined and hoped for when we first started. Moving on from that group, and the years spent touring and tour managing bands, settling down back home was my next move. Working for Luckyman Concerts was a lucky gig since I had imagined not going back to being a promoter. But I wasn’t talent buying for the company just working in Marketing and running shows.

This was around 2006, and the only thing going on downtown was Modified Arts, PHIX Gallery, Trunk Space, Perihelion Arts, The Paper Heart, and The Lost Leaf had just opened. The places that considered themselves as real venues (like The Nile, Mason Jar, The Green Room, Nita’s Hideaway) were all gone, leaving small and up and coming bands with little options besides these DIY art spaces and house shows. I was living downtown just off 7th Street and McKinley, and I started playing music again and most of the houses next to or around me were friends that also were in bands. As many have said before me, we’re creatures of habit – so naturally, I went back to booking shows (happily).

In doing so I was able to help manage and be part of the growth of bands like Landmine Marathon and This Century. Genre’s never been a thing that I cared much about because for me it’s about the quality of the song. This led me to only doing shows for bands I like – and sticking to it. I was lucky enough to do 1st shows for bands like Ty Segall, Oh Sees, Health, Fucked Up, Vivian Girls, Wavves, Saosin and was able to help bring legends like Earth Crisis, Napalm Death, Mayhem, Rigor Mortis, Necrophagist, and Eyehategod to Phoenix. In the midst of it all, I saw friends rise from small local bands to big bands like Destruction Unit, Gatecreeper, Body of Light and Spirit Adrift. I did a lot, but what inspired me the most was the community. Everyone was excited and everyone was starting bands and playing music, making art, making zines, and becoming active within local communities.

With Stateside starting venues, I was fortunate enough to book and DJ gigs for The Crescent Ballroom, Valley Bar, and Psyko Steve’s Rebel Lounge as they first opened. Our community still grows, and I’m lucky to be working with people that see value in others – not just musicians but those that want a chance and want to be a part of what Phoenix has to offer. The Book of Luke says “give and it will come back to you”, and Hinduism and Buddhism promote the concept of Karma. I’ve given my life to this, but I try to remain realistic and hold no one or anything accountable for the things I receive. I have other jobs as well, but music is a form of meditation for me. I work to live, but I make music to keep my sanity. Concert promotion is different than it was before, and attendance to events has grown much more than it has before. Thankfully the Universe has given me some favor, and with the help of incredible and passionate people, I’ve been able to help book and host 2 annual festivals, HOCO Fest and Sonoran Violence. Two festivals that not only showcase incredible out of town artists with incredible local talent but also allows us all to give back and show the world – as like-minded people what we think of the world around us.

I play in bands now, Soft Shoulder and SCALE, and I DJ from time to time at places like Gracie’s and Lunchbox with a steady gig every 3rd Saturday at Linger Longer Lounge. In theory, I’m still the same as I ever was but I can only hope I’ve grown past that. I hope that I’ve been able to help others see and live in a world they never thought they could – through music, acceptance, and love.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In the beginning, the shows were mostly booked in small art spaces and houses because these bands weren’t as popular as they are now. This would be considered the biggest obstacle because ticket sales mean money to pay the room, the bands, and the staff to make the show happen. In time, when you grow a community those things change. People sense the importance of what’s going on and feel attracted to life – like a tree that bears fruit.

One of the biggest reasons I had to stop touring was because my father had a heart attack, and I was barely home. Being home has helped, and it helps to have family around.

Please tell us about your work.
SELECT is a concert promotion company. I’m a talent buyer/concert promoter. I mostly work with brands that I like as well, and usually tend to work with people that I trust. Without a doubt, I’m the proudest of the friends and people within this state that we’ve been lucky enough to be apart of their growth.

I only work with a few people. I don’t take on every band that wants to work with me. Before this interview I never allowed myself to talk about this sort of thing (openly) because I’m not the one that’s important here – it’s the artists that are important. It’s the labels that take on the risk of putting out these artists, which is an art form on its own – they’re important. It’s the visually gifted designers that make the shirts, the flyers, and album art that people remember forever – they’re important. The people that come and pay to get in – they’re important. Who I am and what I do may set myself apart from others on its own, but trust me that’s not what I believe. We’re all here together.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m looking forward to more HOCO Festivals, Sonoran Violence events, more shows for amazing artists, more DJ nights bringing rare tracks and good vibes, and others inspiring others to allow people to find art and music within themselves and continue to grow the experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: azpartygirlz.com
• Email: select.shows@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azpartygirlz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azpartygirlz

Image Credit:
@blondefawn on instagram

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