Aaron DeFeo is a Tucson native who has been in the nightlife industry for more than a decade. A graduate of the UA in creative writing, his loves of late nights and alcohol have kept him on one side of the bar or the other for most of his adult life. He is currently the club manager/mixologist for Hotel Congress and Maynards Market and Kitchen.
What was the first concert you ever saw?
Billy Joel. Maybe it's just my overactive imagination, but I swear there was a helicopter that flew in for "Goodnight Saigon."
What are you listening to these days?
I always find myself gravitating to glam and hair rock, but I've also been listening to Good Old War, Roadside Graves, B-Movie, Two Door Cinema Club, The Lawrence Arms, Attack in Black, Electric Six and anything that Matt McCoy spins at Bang! Bang!
What was the first album you owned?
Sadly, it might have been Whitney Houston's eponymous release on cassette.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Jack Johnson.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
I would like to say the Rolling Stones, but I'm going to go with Kix. I saw Aerosmith (the poor man's Rolling Stones) a couple of years ago, and when Steven Tyler and Joe Perry did a ballad back-to-back with fake snow falling on them, I almost vomited. If that happened with the Stones, my world would be ruined.
Musically speaking, what is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Westside Connection. But really, there's nothing guilty about it.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
"Isn't It Grand, Boys" by the Clancy Brothers.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
Though there are many choices (Henry Rollins, Alkaline Trio, David Bowie), I would have to concede that Queen is the winner. I got Classic Queen in '92 and literally wore out the tape wheels on it. Which would explain my love for debauchery and ridiculous moustaches.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Belle and Sebastian, The Boy With the Arab Strap.
