Arizona Backroads - A2Z

On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman sits down at the intimate Z-Bar inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort with one of Arizona's most promising young voices — Tia Penny .   At just 18 years old, Tia has already built an impressive musical foundation. From receiving her first ukulele at age seven to performing in coffee shops across Arizona, her journey reflects both talent and purpose...

Origin: Tempe, Arizona Genre: Rock / Blues Rock Core Members:   Josh Kennedy — Guitar, Vocals Chico Diaz — Drums Brandon Kuntz — Bass   On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman sits down with Arizona rock powerhouse The Black Moods to talk about how it really starts.   Before the tours. Before the big stages. Before opening for national acts.   It was four-hour bar gigs. Moving pool tables o...

On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman walks into Roosters Country and discovers a band on the brink of something bigger.   Meet Lacy Rashea and her band.   By weekday, Lacy and Shane strip it down to acoustic — what she calls "paid practice" — tightening harmonies, testing songs, and building chemistry. By weekend, it's a full five-piece country-rock show that brings the rowdy.   Lacy sha...

On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman is back at the Grand Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, sitting down with Arizona blues powerhouse JC & The Juke Rockers .   Frontman John Chavez (JC) shares how a $12 Stella guitar at age 12 launched a lifelong journey from classic rock roots to full-time blues musician. Alongside bassist and longtime collaborator Rob DeVries and...

Birdman pulls up in Downtown Mesa at Diamond Don's , right next to The Saltmine Studio Oasis , to sit down with rising Arizona vocalist and recording artist Carley Cavender .   Carley's story is the real behind-the-scenes grind: singing at weddings at nine years old, getting bullied after a school talent show, then reclaiming the mic at 18 through open mics and never looking back. She breaks down...

On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman rides 13 miles and 138 curves deep into the Superstition Mountains to visit one of Arizona's most legendary outposts — Tortilla Flat .   Population: 6. Oldest surviving stagecoach town in Arizona. And home to an estimated 750,000 dollar bills covering the walls.   Birdman sits down with Ryan — assistant general manager, maintenance lead, and unofficia...

On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman is back at the Grand Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort , sitting down with Ron Alosi and members of his powerhouse band, The Situation .   Seven-piece band. No backing tracks. No safety nets. Just live musicianship under the Arizona sky.   Ron — entertainment director at the resort — along with Dave Morgan on bass and Harry Young o...

On this episode of Arizona Backroads , Birdman goes behind the scenes at the newly renovated Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort with Regional Director of Engineering Jennifer Mueller — the woman who helped oversee a massive $120 million transformation of one of Scottsdale's most legendary properties.   From the iconic days of Center Stage Bar to today's reimagined Grand Vista Lounge, this isn't just a...

Birdman is coming to you from the legendary Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort , a venue long known in Arizona's live music scene — from the days of Center Stage to performances by guitar icon Esteban .   In this episode of Arizona Back Roads , Birdman sits down with acoustic harmony powerhouse JTM3 — Jay Allen, Tony, and Matt Henderson — a trio built on decades of friendship, m...

Welcome to Arizona Back Roads , the podcast where local legend Birdman takes you beyond the tourist traps and into the real heart of Arizona.   Before podcasts were cool, Birdman was already behind the mic—starting in the early 2000s when shows were built for the iPod and downloaded off iTunes. From broadcast TV and magazines to radio and full-time podcasting, the journey has always been about sto...