El Paso Is Now Cool So It’s Finally Time To Embrace Change

Local blogger tells innovation: "Welcome to El Paso. Now Go Home." But why can't they stay?

A local blogger recently wrote an article about how The Outpost, a new place where traveling musicians can rest, stock up and rejuvenate, is bad for the city. From the first sentence of this article, you can already tell his tone is negative and uninviting to an outsider trying to dedicate time, money or even simple appreciation to the city of El Paso.

"There's Khalid. He's some kind of rock star."

You don't need to be into Khalid's music to see all the positive things he has said about El Paso. In interviews with Billboard, Fader Fort, USA Today, Forbes, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times and more, Khalid gushes about his love for the Sun City. Syk Sense who produced Khalid's smash-hit "Location" even told Billboard if they wouldn't have finished the song right here in El Paso it wouldn't be the same:

It’d sound totally different from how it sounds today. Everybody that wound up being a part of the record that was there that day. Alfredo Gonzalez, originally an engineer who said he could play keys, hopped on the track. As I’m building the beat, Tunji and Alfredo were bouncing ideas off each other. Meanwhile, Khalid is writing on the other side of the room.

Acting like Khalid hasn't done a lot to bring El Paso to the forefront of musical inspiration is a disservice to the city.

From there, the blog quotes recent articles that have been written about the Outpost and what the new, innovative concept is trying to do for the city. The writer states he feels "like the Native Americans must have felt when Columbus landed." The difference is this little spot isn't trying to take over El Paso, or kick us out of the city. Outpost is merely trying to bring new companies, businesses and ideas.

It's most likely true, that the author would grab bands passing through El Paso to play a gig as long as they were stopping here on their way to and from cities like Austin, Dallas, Phoenix and others. But since that time, things have started to change for our little dusty outpost of El Paso. Sure, some bands still use El Paso as a stop to pump gas, stretch their legs and continue on to their next destination. But many now, are using El Paso as a place to stop and spend time. Royal Blood drank margaritas and celebrated a crew member's birthday at a local watering hole, Swedish metal rockers Ghost came to town and asked to go shooting and there are probably many other stories we don't even know about. El Paso has a fond spot in many band's hearts for our authentic food, cheap drinks and friendly locals.

So why not embrace a spot like the Outpost, that seeks to bring more musicians to El Paso and also introduce them to some of the amazing things the Sun City has to offer?

One of the best parts about El Paso is how many people are now discovering our town. The Outpost is also talking to locals to find great local activities, shops, sights and eateries that traveling bands can enjoy. Not every band has the luxury of knowing someone in the city to tell them where is a good place to go.

Sure, this means that brands are investing in the Outpost but that also means that outside capital is being invested into El Paso as well. One of the companies being brought into the Outpost has already expressed interest in investing into a local festival because of the locals they met and the overall positive changes they have been hearing about this city.

Local blogger tells innovation: "Welcome to El Paso. Now Go Home." But why can't they stay and help make El Paso a destination instead of a pitstop?

In another article he actually states "I’m all for El Paso not getting any bigger." But why not? Why do you not want the city to grow and progress like so many others are doing? You sound just like the people who thought El Paso wasn't big enough for two downtown music festivals in a year. Now, not only do El Pasoans get to enjoy both Streetfest and Neon Desert, but we even have Sun City Music Festival, a gigantic EDM festival in Ascarate Park. No one even fathomed El Paso could have three festivals.

Except for the young people.

Young El Paso influencers like Patrick McNeil and the crew at Splendid Sun Productions, Johnny and Kiki of J & K Presents, Dickey Williams of his ever-growing arsenal of nightlife hotspots, Octavio Gomez, Nick Salgado and Rudy Valdes of Pan y Agua who own several beloved eateries in town and so many more. These are the people who not only believe in El Paso and the city's potential but are embracing the changes necessary to make it a successful big city.

And to answer his last question, the Outpost is currently gathering tour schedules for bands of all types of genres to make sure they are booked year round. Trust us, we've already been contacted about some metalcore bands coming through El Paso.