AWC concert showcases local music

 Young local musicians have a hard time trying to find venues to play in Yuma, but a few local bands have a gig that is open to the public and free this Friday. It's the Arizona Western College Block Party, starting at 5 p.m. in the AWC quad.

  The night will feature seven bands and an unofficial CD release party for the band Tugboat, which hails from Yuma but now calls the Phoenix area home after members enrolled in colleges there.

  "It is always a great feeling to come back home," said Phillip Hanna, who plays the synthesizer for the five-piece Tugboat. "We get to see our families, friends, and get some amazing food from my favorite restaurant, Mi Rancho.

  "The kids in Yuma are very supportive of our music. Hopefully one day, Yuma can have a venue that lasts longer than a few-month time period," Hanna said.

  "This visit will also be the first time that Yuma will get a chance to purchase our five song EP. We released the CD titled 'Put This Into Motion' earlier this year in Phoenix and on iTunes, but Yuma has still been left without it," he said.

  Other performers for the event include the Indie-rock band Neba, from Phoenix, as well as Phoenicians Small Leaks Sink Ships.

  Local musicians include The Castratos, alternative rockers Lucid Dream Machine,  funk-inspired band Apollos Groove, experimental hip-hop from Loudmouth and the ever-popular ska band The Mexican Ostrich.

  "I'm looking forward to the entire show as I'm a big fan of every band participating in the show," said event organizer Ramon Figueroa. "I'm really enjoying putting this concert on and hope everyone comes out and has a good time. It's free so everyone should come check it out.

  "We did the show last year and it was really successful and fun, so we decided we'd do it again this year. We've taken it up a level and have been able to book three Phoenix bands: Small Leaks Sink Ships, Tugboat, and NEBA. It was especially cool booking Small Leaks Sink Ships because I started talking to them right after reading about them in Alternative Press as they were included in the magazine's annual '100 bands to watch out for' issue," Figueroa said. He serves as vice-president of student body activities on the AWC government board.

  "People can expect to have a good time and listen to a lot of great bands. So many different styles of music are going to be there so there's going to be something for everyone, and there's guaranteed to be a band someone hasn't heard before that will be their new favorite band," he added.

  "Personally, the thing that excites me most about playing this local show is the fans and friends that are there to see us," Hanna said. "Without our fan support, we would just be five guys playing music in a space somewhere.  We are able to play with all the young up and coming local bands ... It is really great to see all the local talent that Yuma has to offer."

Stefani Guerrero Soucy can be reached at SSoucy@yumasun.com or 539-6857.