The Desert Vibe

We sit down with Tempe music mainstay Amy Hansen to talk about how a truly welcoming open mic works, why the local scene feels like a musician co-op, and how community support turns into real action.  Amy's Website: https://www.facebook.com/ebonysbud • Amy’s path from Chicago to Arizona and into the Tempe music scene  • Unity Through Community and why nonprofits matter for local art  • Native...

We sit down with Diana Lee Messana to trace the real path from a Glendale music store to major stages, studio sessions, and a life built around performance. We also map out where live music is vibing across Arizona right now, from Jerome and Bisbee to Flagstaff and Prescott. Website: https://www.facebook.com/diana.lee.5872682 • her first recordings and how format changes shape a career • favorite...

We sit down with Justin Olson, aka PTNA, to talk about the leap from writing songs in private to sharing them on real stages and letting people see what the music is really made of. We also tour the Arizona live music map with venue picks and open mic nights across Sedona, Queen Creek, Tucson, Show Low, and Tempe.  Listen to Justin Olson "PTNA": http://Ptna.bandcamp.com • first open mic...

We catch up with blues guitarist Chuck Hall as he looks back on decades in the Arizona music scene and talks through a bold, open-ended move to Bend, Oregon. We also share fresh live music intel across the state, from an all-arts open stage in Casa Grande to festival news up in Flagstaff.  WEBSITE:  https://www.facebook.com/chuckhallmusic.page • Chuck’s first leap into Arizona and how jam nights t...

We talk with Tempe Mayor Corey Woods about how a personal decision to put down roots turns into long-term public service and a hands-on approach to community building. We also dig into why live music and entertainment are not a luxury in Tempe, but part of the city’s identity, economy, and future.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-woods-29817169/ • Corey’s path to Tempe through ASU and why he sta...

We sit down with Blaise Lantana as she closes out a long run at KJZZ, tracing how a working musician became a trusted jazz voice for Arizona. We talk honestly about loneliness, sobriety, creative drive, and what it means to step into a new chapter after a life spent serving listeners and local music.  Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1196271322 • retiring as music director and on-a...

We catch up with Laura Joy to compare what it really feels like to build a music life in Phoenix and Los Angeles, from getting paid solo gigs to finding your people in a huge scene. We also dig into her percussive acoustic style, the extra pressure women face in the industry, and why DIY infrastructure can be the smartest path forward. Website: www.laurajoymusic.com • comparing Phoenix and LA for...

We sit down with Arizona violinist Tim Sadow and dig into how he becomes the rare kind of musician who can jump genres, find the right part, and make a band feel bigger without getting in the way. Along the way, we talk Arizona community, live music authenticity in an AI era, and the choices that separate playing a lot from playing what matters.  Tim's Website: www.timsadow.com • Tim’s early...

We sit down with singer and arts leader Sandra Bassett to trace how a business mindset can protect a creative life and expand opportunity across a whole community. We dig into fair pay, authentic performance, and why the arts are not background noise but real economic power in Arizona.  Website: www.thesandrabassett.com • negotiating a business major while keeping music central  • leaving corporat...

We talk with guitarist and songwriter Hannes Guevara about friendship, craft, and the quiet skills that make a musician indispensable onstage. The conversation moves from global life stories to concrete songwriting systems, plus the Tempe and Phoenix live music community that keeps pulling great players together.  Website: HannesK.com • Seeing economics and music as the same search for patterns  •...

We sit down with Tucson artist Maria Montanini to talk about raising six kids while building a real music business. She shares how pain shaped her songwriting, why discipline matters more than hype, and what authenticity looks like in a filtered industry.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/embed/artist/5HEzzeNekWSleEuqLQyTYj?utm_source=generator • balancing single motherhood with gigs and rehearsa...

We sit down with Johnny Dixon to trace how a kid chasing radio voices and free promo 45s becomes a lifelong advocate for Arizona’s overlooked records and artists. John Dixon is a legendary Arizona music historian, on-air radio personality, Capitol Records exec, and all-around nice guy. Along the way we talk segregation-era airwaves, major-label promotion at Capitol, and why the desert sound still...

We sit down with legendary Tempe engineer and producer Clark Rigsby of Tempest Recording and trace how a tight local scene can shape careers far beyond Arizona. We trade stories about making records, working with major artists, and why honesty, prep, and real struggle still matter more than shiny tools.  Clarke Rigsby: www. TempestRecording.com • Clark’s early road years and why he chose Tempe ove...

A great record doesn’t start with a microphone. It starts with taste, tough choices, and someone willing to say, “That’s close, but it’s not right yet.” We’re joined by Sean Cooney, recording engineer and owner of Three Leaf Recording in Sunny Slope, for a deep look at how real music production works inside a Phoenix recording studio. Sean Cooney's Socials:  www. Instagram.com/3leafrecording...

A cracked acoustic guitar sits on the table, Glenn strums a chord, and our guest looks up and says the one line you never expect to hear: he’s the person who helped put that exact guitar into the world. From there, the conversation opens up into something bigger than gear, because Rich McDonald isn’t just a player, he’s a former Fender executive vice president and chief product officer who helped...

We sit down with Arizona singer-songwriter and author Nancy Elliott to talk about desert inspiration, creative discipline, and the surprising moment a single song turns into a full Western novel. She shares how she protects her time, captures place in lyrics and poetry, and keeps making new work across music, writing, and design. • managing a packed creative life by batching email, texts, and soci...

The music business can feel like it’s floating in midair, and somehow you’re still expected to build a career on it. We sit down with touring songwriter Bobo Burns, calling in from Anaheim, to get honest about what it takes to survive as an independent musician while still making work you’re proud of. He talks about years of touring through Arizona venues and festivals, why the Arizona music commu...

We trade the romance of live music for the reality of making festivals work, from Glendale’s folk stages to city‑ringing mega shows. Hard lessons, fun wins, and the playbook that keeps crowds safe, hydrated, and happy without killing the vibe. • why long lead times save events • building teams and committees that cover blind spots • budgeting for insurance, security, and cleanup • planning for wea...

We sit down with Ryan to unpack how Tempe’s music scene is rebuilding around public spaces, intentional production, and a vision to turn Hayden Flour Mill into a destination stage. Along the way, we talk loudness, ear protection, kava vs alcohol, and why venues are the hidden key. • shifting from dreamer to producer with hands‑on logistics • creating a container for musicians to feel safe and hear...

We explore how open mics actually work, from swift changeovers and strong backline to a flexible, inclusive ethos that still guards against karaoke creep. Stories from standout bands, a spur-of-the-moment wedding, and the wider Arizona scene show how community grows when hosts say yes with care. • the monastery’s weekly open mic and monthly band showcase • balancing tracks with live performance wi...

We welcome Old Town Love for a lively, generous conversation about craft, values, and the unique way two musicians can fill a room with rhythm and heart. From candy debates to cajon engineering to rebranding with purpose, the story moves fast and lands with warmth. • Arizona live, loud and local focus  • Old Town Love’s origin from cover band to duo  • Rebrand story anchored in Old Town Scottsdale...

We turn the mic on Jamirae to trace a life shaped by Mesa roots, immigrant grit, and Southern soul, and how loss refined her voice and purpose. From talent shows to running a 6,000-cap venue, she shares why every song must feel true and how community keeps art alive. • Arizona upbringing with Lebanese and Southern family roots • Learning by ear, clarinet to woodwinds, love of lyrics • First live p...

A new voice arrives with a poem over guitar, a memorial song written at fourteen, and a plan to balance ASU biology with a growing presence on Arizona stages. We explore grief, growth, and why an open, all-ages music community can change an artist’s path. • Origins of “Shoeless” and a spoken-word style over guitar • New original “I Tried” and leaning into folk textures • Writing “Ellie’s Song” as...

We sit down with Annie Moscow to trace the arc from classical prodigy to songwriter, lyricist, theater maker, and fearless live performer, and we dig into how she reclaimed her voice, built community in Arizona, and balances DIY independence with industry machines. We close with local show picks, including Annie’s upcoming dates. • classical training shaping a unique songwriter’s voice • writing f...

We sit down with songwriter and guitarist Shawn Royer to explore collaboration, craft, and why releasing finished songs matters more than waiting for a gatekeeper. The talk moves from KISS-fueled drum lessons to Arizona’s diverse scene, the Bluebird’s magic, and the small venues where music hits hardest. • how The Steady Kind formed with Rhonda and Freddie • moving from pitching publishers to self...