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Word spread quickly Tuesday that Esquire magazine rates Pittsburgh as the best among "Cities That Rock" in the United States. In an article that will appear Tuesday in its April issue, Esquire touts Pittsburgh as No. 1 on a list that includes Denver, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, New Orleans and San Francisco.

"I think it's great for Pittsburgh," said Mike Speranzo, one of the co-owners of Mr. Small's Funhouse Theatre in Millvale, which was cited as one of the best places to rock in town.

According to Esquire associate editor Chris Berend, the article was designed to look beyond acknowledged music meccas such as New York City, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, to cities that have thriving, but relatively unknown, scenes. The story mentions Mr. Small's; bands Rusted Root, Modey Lemon and the Clarks; Dave's Music Mine, a record store with locations in Oakland and on the South Side; and Jo Jo's Restaurant, a Strip District diner it describes as a place "to soak up the beer."

The story also cites what Pittsburgh is traditionally known for -- hard hats, rusty steel and gridiron. While those elements, save football, are more past than present, Modey Lemon's Paul Quattrone agrees that the city's history informs the present.

"There's still a lot of that blue-collar ethic here that just seeps into the music," Quattrone says. "You work hard, you play harder. For us -- and a lot of our friends' bands -- that has a lot to do with it."

Clarks guitarist Rob James, reached in Milwaukee where the band was en route to a concert in Appleton, Wis., says the article affirms what he and his bandmates have been trying to do since they started the Clarks at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s.

"It's really nice for our band to be in that company, especially with Rusted Root," he says. "It's sort of a testament to both of our bands. We've both been able to exist for well over a decade with the same core members, pursuing our own thing without really having to yield to popular trends in music."

Dave Pasaniuk, who owns Dave's Music Mine stores, was equally ecstatic to be mentioned in the article. He hopes the publicity will boost business at his stores, which receive orders from all over the country.

Pasaniuk admitted he was surprised to hear that Pittsburgh was rated higher than other cities.

"But if you really look at it, there are so few bands that are passing by our market anymore," he says. "For so many smaller bands, there's a venue like Club Cafe. You still have all those other venues that are closed, but with all these small venues popping up, there are a lot more bands coming to Pittsburgh. Bands are either not touring, or coming to Pittsburgh already."

The Esquire article comes on the heels of another boost for the city's music scene. Late Monday, Jon Rinaldo of Joker Productions announced he was re-opening the Strip District space that formerly housed Rosebud. The first event at the new venue, called The World, will be an April 12 concert featuring Sugarcult.

"I would think that the article would bring some recognition to the city," Rinaldo says. "Not only for the live entertainment scene, but also the retail scene at places like Dave's. ... That will help, somewhat, to give the city some recognition."

Rinaldo thinks that despite the recent closings of Metropol in the Strip District, Rosebud, and the impending closure of Club Laga in Oakland on April 2, the belief that the live concerts are an endangered species locally was a bit presumptuous. The Esquire story might help restore faith among local fans that they can still see their favorite bands.

Kyle Smith, local music director at WYEP-FM, agrees that Pittsburgh could use a boost.

"I just get so tired of the musicians and the critics taking shots at each other," Smith says. "It doesn't help the scene at all. They don't help each other out, as far that goes. But in actuality, the scene is pretty good here."

The Esquire article might re-affirm that, but Speranzo feels it can also inspire the city's next generation of musicians.

"Hopefully, it will invigorate the youth culture that is in Pittsburgh right now that is in high school to have pride where they live," he says. "Hopefully, it will inspire them to do the best at their craft and be great musicians and great tradespeople in their fields. That to me is the sense it brings."

Who can explain it?

Why did Esquire magazine, in its April issue, select Pittsburgh as No. 1 among Cities That Rock? Here are some possible reasons from members of the local music scene.

Paul Quattrone, Modey Lemon: "Because a city like Pittsburgh is so far off the national radar as far as the spotlight goes, I think people just do things to have a good time, and aren't self-conscious about looking cool. 'Is this cool? Does it fit into this or that scene?' Nobody cares about that (stuff). In my experience, if you even try to do something pretentious -- which is kind of a must if you're in New York, where attitude is the No. 1 thing -- you get laughed at here."

Eric Graf, Boxstep: "Yeah, our city rocks. It's small enough that if you want to make an impact, you can. It's big enough to accommodate lots of different styles of music and scenes. You know, there seems to be such a push on the part of Pittsburgh and the music community to legitimize ourselves in the'eyes of the nation.' I think the town is finally coming around to shaking this inferiority complex."

Kyle Smith, local music director, WYEP-FM: "I'm from Minneapolis, and you have destination points (in Pittsburgh). ... At least on the South Side, you can go to Club Cafe and know that you're going to get great sound and good bands. Or you can go to the Rex (Theatre) or you can go to Nick's (Fat City), depending on your style and mood and mode. Maybe there's a little resurgence happening."

Rob James, The Clarks: "If you take a look at a place like Mr. Small's (Funhouse Theatre in Millvale) or Club Cafe, those are two very unique venues. There's nothing like those two venues in the country."

Regis Behe can be reached at (412) 320-7990, or rbehe@tribweb.com. Michael Machosky can be reached at (412) 320-7901 or mmachosky@tribweb.com.

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