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All That and then Some aka PSYKO STEVE
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Stephen Chilton
While I usually talk about one type of noun, (places) I usually don’t touch on persons and things. However, this month I felt the need to recognize someone for all that they have done to make the downtown a better place for you and me.
You may have met Stephen Chilton and probably didn’t even know it. A modest and understated dude, who is truly one of the power brokers in downtown Phoenix’s music scene and would be the last guy at his own show to tell you that he was the guy responsible for the band you were thrilled to see.
Since he was in his teens, Psyko Steve as he’s affectionately known (and which happens to be the name of his production company) has been a force to reckon with when it comes to music and the slow but steady transformation of our downtown.
“Psyko Steve Presents “PSP” started promoting concerts in the fall of 2000. PSP has done shows for major label “up and coming” bands that are on the verge of exploding onto the national scene as well as unknown acts that need a boost to get some recognition. He is a consummate fan of the underdog, perhaps being one himself and has the sort of encyclopedic knowledge of music that would probably make him a super star on Jeopardy if the category were Bands for $200.
With a desire to produce the best events possible for his customers he takes enormous risks by booking unknown talent, (which sometimes ends up biting him financially) but never once has this stopped him from forging ahead and seeking bigger and better shows. This dedication to the highest quality acts and best quality events has led to critical acclaim. At only 23, when most of us were trying to figure out which bar to hang at, the Arizona Republic was already calling him a “veteran promoter,” and the Phoenix New Times has said, "Being a seasoned promoter, Chilton has a good idea of what kids want.”
Aside from the music scene, Chilton has been an active supporter of the cultural happenings downtown since high school and continues to this day. He was a driving force in getting the light rail hours changed on weekends to accommodate the thousands that intended to ride the rail, frequent the bars and restaurants downtown and didn’t wish to drink and drive.
Over the past eleven plus years, he worked at a record label in L.A., managed U.S. tours by both national and international bands, managed a band that he personally got signed to a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, thrown countless amazing parties and promoted hundreds of shows in the valley.
He works without a master plan. When asked what he was going to do now that Modified was effectively showing him and independent music the door as it coverts to a full on Art Space, he casually replied. “I don’t know it’s not till December anyway.”
He’s a philosopher and a showman and co- responsible for Adult Swim/Star Swim in downtown Phoenix as well as many other parties and event including the recent Vice Magazine sponsored party at Black Forest Mill.
The first time I met him, we spent 3 hours at Casey Moore’s talking about the galaxies, the Mayan Calendar, investment bankers, calculus equations and the merits of thin women.
Stephen Chilton is one of the reasons downtown Phoenix is changing for the better, one of the reasons the music scene is still so unique and vibrant and an extremely talented web site designer, poster maker and artist in his own right.
The great philosopher Heraclites once said, “There is nothing permanent but change” and I think that is probably Stephen Chilton’s unofficial motto.
To me, he is an activist promoting downtown Phoenix by bringing together diverse groups of people through music. A true Phoenician and someone to support now and watch for in the future.
Check out his web sites:
www.psykosteve.com
www.aestheticnoise.com
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