LOCAL OPINIONS
By CHRIS HANSEN ORF
Get Out
July 7, 2005

Valley music notables weigh in with their favorite all-time Valley tunes:
--Johnny D (legendary local radio DJ and Valley music historian): “No question here, it’s gotta be ‘Johnny D.’ by JFA, the studio and live version, even. I’m humbled.”

--Roger Clyne (singer/songwriter with Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers): “I never can narrow it down to just one. ‘One Dozen Roses’ by The Cartwheels — perfect roots rock pop. ‘I Did That’ by The Drakes — indie-rock feel before there was indie rock, and ‘G-Daddy’ by Dead Hot Workshop — genius premonition.”

--Mark Zubia (guitarist/singer with The Pistoleros, Los Guys and Zubia Brothers): “Picking one song is hard, but today, these are my favorites, and it'll probably change tomorrow. I love The Format's ‘Tune Out’ — I just love their stuff. But I'd have to say ‘Demograph’ by Dead Hot Workshop. It's just a nicely sad melody, not really a ballad — it's a rock song — and it just kind of floats.”

--Scotty Johnson (Gin Blossoms guitarist): I think (Jimmy Eat World's) ‘The Middle’ is pretty amazing. The guitar solo really reminds me of Tempe — it's really melodic. I can even sing the whole solo, just off the top of my head.”

--Dave Insley (Valley country artist): “Although I greatly admire the work of many local songwriters such as Adam Jacobson, Steve Borick, Andy Hersey, Mario Moreno, Mickey Ferrell and Tucson's Al Perry, my all-time favorite song by a local writer is ‘Mr. Moon,’ by the late Bruce Hamblin.”

--Brian Blush (former Refreshments guitarist/solo artist): “It's either ‘Sam’ by the Meat Puppets or ‘Found Out About You’ by the Gin Blossoms, but I'm going with ‘Found Out About You.’ Any Doug Hopkins song is great, but that one I find particularly haunting.”

---Leah Miller Collins (faculty adviser for ASU student radio station KASC [1260 AM] The Blaze): “Kelli Richards” by Gin Blossoms. “Besides capturing a life-altering time in my youth, it was my mom’s favorite Gin Blossoms song — forget what it’s really about and just sing along as loud as you can.”