Lounge from p 51 meant a specific focus on marketing the club. “We get a lot of repeat customers,” Perez says. “I speak to every customer every night, and 75 percent of guests are from word of mouth. And I spend a lot of money on advertising. When building an audience, you’ve got to have that human element.” Perez has even more plans to further grow Westside. For instance, more “themed” nights at the club. “If you look at our lineup, we have a lot of old-school bands,” he says. “We bring in The Rocket 88’s and Big Pete Pearson. I want to bring in reggae, man. But can I get an audience with a reggae band?” Perez adds they even held a “French night,” and that event’s success was a huge inspiration in his plans to strategically expand the club’s calendar. “We’re only open for four days,” Perez says. “We were originally going to be open six, but we’ll expand it as the market allows.” Those open nights, Perez adds, could be available to “punk or comedy” shows to help other groups getting their start with live entertainment. Perez also plans to put on a festival this spring or summer, taking place in the club’s parking lot (with permits, of course). He has asked other venues to participate. “I spoke to Rhythm Room and The Nash to see if they wanted to help co-sponsor,” he says. “This isn’t competi- tion to me; the more people that come, all of us do well. I think it just expands the audience. My venue’s a little different from Chars, which is a little different from Rhythm Room.” Perez could eventually book non-local acts, saying it “just gives a little more credi- bility to the club when you have a national or even a regional band.” And that doesn’t even include plans for the big April 9 anniversary “blowout show.” But if it seems like Perez wants to conquer the local music industry, his ambitions aren’t quite as grand. “I’m not looking for expansion,” he says. “But if you want to use my name, that’s fine.” He talked about a local Irish pub that grew too big and lost its inherent charm, a future he wants to avoid for Westside. Because even after this added work for a “retirement hobby,” Perez aims to get back to his first plans: “I want to get it set up so me and my girl can travel, come back in a month, and know that someone’s taken care of it,” he says. That means Perez just has to find “the right staff, the right band coordinator, and the right musicians.” But even then he won’t be able to pull away completely. Because the last two years have only increased Perez’s love of jazz and blues, and he’s dedicated in making the most of this club, no matter where he’s traveling. “With all the electronics nowadays, you 52 can do everything online,” he says. “Check my reports, look at the cameras.” Westside Blues & Jazz is located at 17045 North 59th Avenue, Glendale. Visit westsideblues.com. THU 3/10 JOHN NEMETH’S BIRTHDAY SHOW! 8PM $15-$18 THE ATOMIC 44S 8PM $15 FRI 3/11 SAT 3/12 SCATTERED MELODIES, METROPOLIS MAN, THE DEADBEAT COUSINS 8PM $10 SUN 3/13 DAVE HAUSE & THE MERMAID WILL HOGE TUES 3/15 MSSV, FAT GRAY CAT, THE GNOMES 8PM $15 WED 3/16 LOCAL MUSIC & ART SHOW! BIG LO, SEA MUSIC, THE HUMAN TORCH, CHZB 8PM $10 MARCH 10TH– MARCH 16TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
