The Desert Vibe

Episodet

• From A Glendale Music Store To Global Stages | The Desert Vibe · Ep 39 26.06.2026 54min

  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 Arizona studios and what great producers pull out of artists • why Diana Lee’s Soul Kitchen star...
• What If Your Day Job Is The Muse | The Desert Vibe · Ep 38 19.06.2026 45min

  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 memories and why Tempe Center for the Arts felt like turning pro • performing as vulnerability and s...
• What If Starting Over Is The Whole Point | The Desert Vibe · Ep 37 12.06.2026 47min

  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 turned into a band • Why the Bend, Oregon move is about equal footing and new ear...
• How Tempe’s Mayor Sees Music Powering A City | The Desert Vibe · Ep 36 05.06.2026 50min

  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 stays • Losing an early council race then building deeper community ties • Turning...
• Who Are You When The Mic Turns Off | The Desert Vibe · Ep 35 28.05.2026 51min

  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-air jazz presenter at KJZZ • getting into radio after the 1980s Texas gig economy coll...
• Phoenix Vs LA For Working Musicians | The Desert Vibe · Ep 34 22.05.2026 1h

  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 access, pay, and day-to-day gigging • where working gigs come from, including private events and...
• The Go To Violinist In Arizona | The Desert Vibe · Ep 33 16.05.2026 1h 5min

  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 classical training plus learning by ear • Building a versatile violin style through funk...
• Sandra Bassett Explains Why Artists Deserve More Pay | The Desert Vibe · Ep 32 08.05.2026 1h 5min

  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 corporate life and proving herself through a Japan audition • rebuilding spaces and progr...
• How To Steal A Song Without Getting Sued | The Desert Vibe · Ep 31 30.04.2026 1h 23min

  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 • Growing up in Iceland, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines before Arizona • The Phoe...
• How A Single Mom Of Six Turns Pain Into Songs | The Desert Vibe · Ep 30 23.04.2026 1h 17min

  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 rehearsals • handling cancellations, emergencies, and venue relationships • turning dep...
• Who Gets To Decide What Music Matters | The Desert Vibe · Ep 29 16.04.2026 1h 10min

  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 travels far beyond the state. Johnny Dixon: azmusicdude.com • early radio idols and the spa...
• Paul McCartney’s Feet And Other Studio Truths | The Desert Vibe · Ep 28 10.04.2026 1h 24min

  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 over LA • What changed in Tempe music culture and why venues matter • Advice for in...
• What Should Stay Imperfect In Music | The Desert Vibe · Ep 27 03.04.2026 1h

  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 www.facebook.com/3leafrecording We talk about what artists should expect when they walk into a ses...
• A Denny’s Conversation That Changed Two Lives | The Desert Vibe · Ep 26 27.03.2026 1h 20min

  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 guide product strategy at one of the most famous guitar companies on Earth. Website: Richmcdonald...
• What If Your Best Book Is Hiding In A Chorus | The Desert Vibe · Ep 25 20.03.2026 1h 9min

  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 social media • growing up in Ohio and feeling “called” to Arizona while driving through • the Arizon...
• How A Working Musician Survives Touring And A Broken Industry | The Desert Vibe · Ep 24 13.03.2026 1h 15min

  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 community feels unusually welcoming, and how those relationships keep a scene alive long after the set...
• What It Really Takes To Plan A Festival That Doesn’t Crash And Burn | The Desert Vibe · Ep 23 05.03.2026 1h 25min

  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 weather, heat, and surprise variables • artist logistics with runners, riders, and traffic • stage ...
• Throw A Rock In Tempe, Hit A Musician | The Desert Vibe · Ep 22 19.02.2026 1h 18min

  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 heard • Tempe’s many scenes and how to connect the “campfires” • vision for Hayden Flour Mill as ven...
• Inside A Desert Venue’s Band Showcase And The Open Mic Debate | The Desert Vibe · Ep 21 13.02.2026 1h 14min

  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 without drifting into karaoke • two-song limits as a tool for flow and fairness • fast transitions...
• How A Cajon, A Washburn, And A Marriage Built A Big Sound | The Desert Vibe · Ep 20 05.02.2026 1h 10min

  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 • Cajon innovation and hybrid drum approach • Guitar technique that blend...