Arizona BBQ Shack Open Mic Review: BBQ, Live Music, and Community in Scottsdale
- James Mattison
- 7 days ago
- 10 min read
Arizona BBQ Shack Open Mic Review: BBQ, Live Music and Community in Scottsdale
Some restaurants happen to have live music.
Arizona BBQ Shack feels like a restaurant built for musicians.
Emma and I have now attended the Arizona BBQ Shack open mic in Scottsdale several times, and every visit has reinforced that feeling.
There are guitars covering the walls, a drum kit ready to go, a baby grand piano, keyboards, microphones, a full PA, musicians sitting at tables listening to one another, and owners who might suddenly jump into your set if they like what you are playing.
Then there is the BBQ.
Put those things together, and you get an open mic that feels less like waiting for your turn on a signup sheet and more like showing up to a musical family gathering.
For musicians wondering what to expect before making the drive to Scottsdale, here is our experience.
Quick Details: Arizona BBQ Shack Open Mic
Venue: Arizona BBQ Shack
Address: 8471 E. McDonald Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Open mic: Every Wednesday.
Official event time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Sign-up from our experience: Around 6:00 PM
Music from our experience: Dave often begins around 6:30 PM while everyone settles in
Host: David “DSG” Grossman
Set length: Two songs, generally kept under 10 minutes
Cost: Free, with no food or drink minimum during our visits
Originals: Yes Covers: Yes Poetry/spoken word: Officially welcomed
Full bands: Possible Drum kit: Yes Piano/keyboards: Yes
PA and microphones: Yes
Acoustic guitar: Host has provided one for performers
Parking: Free lot directly outside
Food: Full BBQ menu Drinks: Full bar plus nonalcoholic options
Atmosphere: Family-friendly, intimate, musical and community-oriented
Best for: Singer-songwriters, bands, beginners, experienced musicians, original artists and musicians who enjoy spontaneous collaboration
One important note: the current public event listing says 7:00 to 9:00 PM, but our firsthand experience is that the signup sheet appears around 6:00 and music begins earlier. If getting a preferred spot matters to you, I would arrive early and check the current event listing before heading over.
A Scottsdale Open Mic That Feels Like a Musician’s Restaurant
The first thing that separates Arizona BBQ Shack from many other open mics is the room itself.
This is an indoor restaurant with tables, booths, and a full bar, but music is everywhere.
One wall displays many of Chef Joe's guitars from over the years. Instruments and music memorabilia surround the dining room. There are a couple of televisions near the bar, but they face away from the performance area, so performers are not competing with people trying to watch a game over their shoulders.
The performance area is at floor level rather than on a raised stage, but in a restaurant this size it works well. You can see and hear the musicians easily from the surrounding tables.
The official Arizona BBQ Shack site describes the restaurant as a casual, welcoming gathering place with a full bar, BBQ and live jazz or blues on select nights. It also identifies the restaurant as family-friendly.
From our experience, music is not an occasional gimmick here.
It feels baked into the identity of the restaurant.
How Signup Works
The signup sheet has gone out around 6:00 PM when we have attended.
There is generally room for about 12 to 15 performers, with each act receiving two songs.
You can choose any available position on the paper list.
We have usually arrived between 6:00 and 6:15 and had no problem getting a spot.
David Grossman, also known as DSG, hosts the evening. Dave normally gets things moving by playing the first couple of songs while everyone settles in.
The current official event listing advertises the public event from 7:00 to 9:00 PM every Wednesday, so I would treat the earlier signup and startup times as practical performer information from our visits rather than a guaranteed official schedule.
David Grossman Makes the Sound Easy
One thing that makes a big difference at any open mic is the host.
Dave knows what he is doing.
He introduces the performers, runs sound, helps musicians get connected and keeps the evening moving.
Emma and I have performed there as a duo with two guitars, and Emma prefers to bring her own microphone. Dave had no problem getting everything connected quickly and dialing in the room.
On a more recent visit, we brought our bassist and trombone player.
Same result.
Quick setup. Good sound. No drama.
That becomes especially important when everyone only has two songs. Nobody wants half their slot consumed by figuring out why an instrument is not coming through the PA.
This May Be One of the Easiest Open Mics for Collaboration
Arizona BBQ Shack has something many open mics do not:
a real backline.
There is a full drum kit, a baby grand piano, keyboards, microphones, music stands and a PA system already in the room.
Dave has also provided an acoustic guitar for performers who need one.
That means the evening can shift easily from a solo singer-songwriter to a duo, trio or full band.
And then there is Chef Joe.
If Chef Joe Likes Your Song, You May Suddenly Have a Drummer
Chef Joe is one of the owners of Arizona BBQ Shack.
He is also a professional musician.
The first time Emma and I performed here, we planned to play one original and one cover.
Then Joe hopped onto the drums.
Suddenly our two-song open mic set sounded like something much bigger.
The fun part is that Joe has an ear for figuring out what a song needs almost immediately. We have since returned with new originals, and once again he has jumped behind the kit and found the groove.
Now we invite him to play whenever we are there.
He is not limited to drums either. Joe can play piano and guitar, and Dave can also jump in on lead guitar or piano.
That makes Arizona BBQ Shack especially interesting for musicians who enjoy spontaneous collaboration.
You might arrive as a solo act and leave having played with musicians you had never rehearsed with.
Originals Are More Than Welcome
This is a good open mic for testing new music.
Emma and I have performed both originals and covers here, and both have been well received.
The official event description specifically welcomes original songs, covers, singers, songwriters, poets and spoken word, along with spontaneous collaborations.
Because many of the people in the room are musicians themselves, there is a genuine listening component.
It is not silent like a theater.
People are eating, talking and enjoying dinner.
But when somebody starts playing, the musicians listen.
That often encourages the rest of the restaurant to listen too.
One evening, a family sitting in a large booth stayed through the entire open mic because they were enjoying the local performers so much.
For songwriters, that environment is valuable.
You can try something new and get a real reaction.
The Community Is What Keeps Us Coming Back
We felt welcome from the first night.
Dave helped us get signed up.
The regular musicians introduced themselves.
Joe and Che, the owners, made us feel like family.
On a couple of evenings, the initial list moved quickly enough that performers were offered a second round.
Naturally, musicians love getting another opportunity to play.
But one moment in particular told Emma and me something about this crowd.
One night we needed to leave before the second round.
Technically, us leaving meant more stage time for everybody else.
Instead of being happy that two competitors were disappearing from the list, several musicians told us they wished we could stay and play again.
That is a pretty good test of an open mic community.
They cared more about hearing one another than maximizing their own stage time.
What Kind of Music Fits Here?
Arizona BBQ Shack has a natural blues and jazz personality.
That makes sense because Chef Joe and Che themselves come from that musical world.
But I would not call this a blues-only open mic.
We have heard everything from gentle classical piano to hard rock.
Singer-songwriter material fits.
Rock fits.
Blues obviously fits.
Jazz fits.
Acoustic music fits.
We have not personally heard heavy metal there, and the relaxed restaurant environment may not be the most natural match for extremely aggressive styles.
But based on what we have experienced, musicians have plenty of room to be themselves.
It does not hurt to keep a little blues or jazz in your back pocket, though.
That might be all it takes to get Chef Joe behind the drums.
Is Arizona BBQ Shack Beginner-Friendly?
Yes.
A listening room can always feel intimidating when you are new because people are actually paying attention.
But the crowd here is supportive.
Almost every time we have gone, somebody has either been performing at an open mic for the first time or trying this particular open mic for the first time.
Nobody expects perfection.
The atmosphere is more like musicians encouraging musicians.
If people like what you played, they will usually tell you.
If something is not their thing, our experience has been that people simply remain respectful.
That makes it a good environment for beginners who want a supportive audience without feeling invisible.
The BBQ Is Part of the Experience
Normally, food is a practical detail in an open mic review.
Here, it deserves its own section.
Arizona BBQ Shack serves brisket, pulled pork, ribs, catfish, burgers, sandwiches, fried okra and a long list of sides. The official menu is available online.
We ordered pulled pork, fries and fried okra.
Then we spent the next week thinking about it.
So we went back and ordered the same thing again.
The other guys keep telling us we are making a mistake by not ordering the brisket because once we try it, supposedly we will never want anything else.
I am deliberately taking my time.
I want to try everything.
The restaurant describes its cooking as slow-smoked Southwestern BBQ, with meats smoked for hours to build flavor and bark.
Che Made the Food Experience Stand Out Too
Emma and I have several food sensitivities, including gluten, dairy, egg and soy.
On our first visit, Emma explained that to Che.
Instead of simply telling us what we could not order, Che went out of her way to figure out what she could make work.
She made sure our fried okra could be prepared gluten-free and helped us identify a BBQ sauce that worked with our needs.
That was our personal experience, not a promise that every dietary restriction can always be accommodated.
But it told us a lot about how Che treats customers.
We were brand new.
She treated us like regulars.
We remembered that.
Easy Parking and Easy Load-In
Musicians carrying equipment will appreciate this one.
There is a parking lot directly in front of and alongside the restaurant.
Parking has been free during our visits, and the walk from the car to the front door is short.
There are no complicated stairs, garages, or long downtown load-ins. That is especially nice if you are bringing more than one instrument or showing up with bandmates.
The Open Mic Actually Led to a Show
Another unexpected bonus came after Joe and Che heard our music.
They booked Emma & James Music for our own show at Arizona BBQ Shack in October!
We later learned that other musicians from the open mic had also been booked for performances there.
That reinforces something we keep discovering while reviewing Arizona open mics:
You never really know who is listening.
An open mic can be practice.
It can be networking.
It can be a place to test a song.
And sometimes it can lead directly to the next gig.
What Makes Arizona BBQ Shack Different?
For me, it comes down to something simple.
This feels like a musicians' restaurant.
Some restaurants are built around sports.
Some are built around nightlife.
This one feels built around food, music, and people sitting together.
There is something almost old-fashioned about it in the best possible way.
Put the phone down. Stop staring at a television.
Sit around a table with friends or family.
Eat really good BBQ. Have a conversation.
When nobody is talking because everyone's mouth is full, let somebody playing a guitar or piano fill the room.
That combination of food and live music creates the kind of human atmosphere that is easy to forget until you experience it again.
Would We Go Back?
We already have. And we will again.
Arizona BBQ Shack has become one of our favorite open mics because the entire experience works together.
Good sound. A great host. Musicians who listen to each other.
Owners who join the music.
Enough equipment to encourage collaboration.
Easy parking. Excellent BBQ.
And a community that made us feel welcome immediately.
That is a difficult combination to beat.
Who Is This Open Mic Best For?
I would recommend Arizona BBQ Shack to beginners, experienced musicians, singer-songwriters, duos, bands, acoustic performers and artists wanting to test original material.
It is especially good for musicians who like the idea of collaborating with other players.
It is also a strong choice if you want friends or family to come watch because they can sit down, order dinner and enjoy the evening without feeling like they have been dragged to a musicians-only event.
Ultimately, that is the vibe.
You come for an open mic.
You stay for BBQ.
Then somewhere along the way, everybody starts feeling a little like family.
About the Author
James Mattison is a musician and blog writer for the Desert Vibe Podcast. He is one half of Emma & James Music, an Arizona-based husband-and-wife music duo performing mostly original music with select covers that fit their soulful, guitar-driven style.
Emma Mattison is known for her expressive vocal style and also manages the website, social media, marketing and online presence that help Desert Vibe reach listeners and musicians across Arizona.
Together, Emma and James are exploring live music events around the Valley for Desert Vibe's “What's Vibin' in the Desert” segment, sharing firsthand reviews designed to help musicians understand what to expect before trying a new open mic.
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