moment of sharp truth before a packed house. It’s the sort of environment where glitches are all but guaranteed. For a horn player who dines on uncertainty, it’s a chance to turn unexpected moments into inspiration. Fertal describes himself as a tinkerer who builds songs as they happen, experi- menting and letting curiosity, rather than ego, dictate a band’s direction. “The most important thing in doing music is you just keep going,” Fertal says. “If somebody goes off, or I come in too early or the singer repeats a chorus, we all look at each other and get back on track however we can. We don’t have that long to build that chemistry. When we get together and have a day to work through stuff, it should be, ‘In case of emergencies, how do we get back on track?’ It’s like taking kids to Disney World. When we get lost, where do we meet?” Lottery veterans: what to expect The incoming Rock Lottery musicians touch on many of the same themes as they prepare — community, collaboration, fun. Oh, and the terror of performing live. Connect with those who have gone through the harrowing ordeal, though, and they’ll tell you it is a deeply anxious moment, akin to the best and worst kind of first date imaginable. Musicians know the gravity of the event and the inherent expectations. And they know that for four songs, Phoenix’s local music scene is looking to them to be moved. “Even after all these decades of song- writing and performing everywhere in the damn world,” says Nicole Laurenne of The Darts, who played the Rock Lottery in 2022, “I was more nervous about this event than most others. In the end the most important thing it did for me was help me let go of some of my performance anxiety.” CJ Jacobson of Paper Foxes, who performed at 2024’s edition, credited the Rock Lottery with reviving his career. “I had almost given up on music,” he says. “I was bored with my writing and had lost all confidence in myself.” When Chilton, the organizer, looks for musicians to showcase in the Rock Lottery, he wants to find proper professions, the players who are out in Phoenix doing serious work. It’s not just talent he’s selecting for — it’s ambition and the will to seize your musical destiny. That approach benefits up-and-comers, those who might otherwise be years away from ever experiencing the spotlight on the big stage, under that mammoth disco ball, playing alongside some of the best musi- cians in the city. In 2023, that was Izzy Mahoubi. The Phoenix singer-songwriter got the call to the Rock Lottery, and used it as a vehicle to forge friendships and relationships. “I felt like I had been known as ‘that’s the girl bugging everyone to let her open at coffee shops,’” Mahoubi says. “I wasn’t able to really showcase to people that I was playing amongst that they really were an inspiration to me. So that was my opportu- nity to showcase my strengths. It was the first time I was taken seriously.” Now she’s much more certain, and even a veteran in some sense. And she’s telling this year’s lucky participants to embrace the ordeal with gusto. “Be open to the minds and the weird- ness of all the other musicians, because we’re all a bunch of weirdos,” Mahoubi says. “Advocate for yourself. And don’t minimize what you bring to the table.” FOR A GOOD CAUSE How Rock Lottery beneficiary Rosie’s House serves local kids. BY CHRIS COPLAN T he beneficiaries of the Rock Lottery, aside from the bewildered musicians on stage and highly enthused audience members, are kids from lower-income families around the Valley. Proceeds from the event help to fund the nonprofit organization Rosie’s House, which last year provided more than 28,000 music lessons and 7,000 meals to more than 600 area students. The Lottery’s gift, says Bell Ballard, comes out to roughly $5,000 each year. Becky Bell Ballard, the CEO of Rosie’s House, lauds the Rock Lottery for its celebration of music at large, and for its support of essential music education for kids. During the 16 years that Bell Ballard has been in her role, she says, the disparities have only widened in which local students receive music education at school. “Our work helps bridge the gap and help those kids who are less fortunate and who have barriers to participation,” she said. Rosie’s House teachers are working with even more kids who arrive without having had any prior musical education. About 85 percent of the students the nonprofit works with are Hispanic and Latino, and most of those kids are from households that make less than $40,000 a year. Be advised: none of those benefits have to weigh on you as you attend the Rock Lottery. It’s just a lucky pairing, sort of like with the bands themselves. You get to support kids’ futures while also taking in some primo tunes from Phoenix’s finest players. “You’re supporting local musicians,” says Bell Ballard. “You’re supporting a local music education nonprofit. And, as an audience member, you’re seeing a once-in-a-lifetime show of incredible talent. You never know what’s going to happen.” Winning Combination from p 14 The Scratchers (inspired by the lottery ticket) perform at Crescent Ballroom. (Photo by Jim Louvau) Scenes from a previous Phoenix Rock Lottery event. (Photo by Michelle Sasonov)
