The Desert Vibe

From A Glendale Music Store To Global Stages | The Desert Vibe · Ep 39

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 [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 starts during COVID to support working musicians • Arizona family history, musical roots, and why she uses the name Diana Lee • the mentors and teachers who sharpen her ear, confidence, and versatility • how she builds a career by doing the work every day • why the Phoenix music community feels like a “great co-op” of musicians • the harmonica and flute moments that win a crowd • upcoming performances plus the Donnie Dean “Oakland Sessions” project • weekend getaway music picks in Jerome and Bisbee • summer concert and tribute show notes for Flagstaff and Prescott • open mic updates and ways to find local listings Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565024/support] Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast] Get the Desert Vibe Podcast swag and support the show! https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products] The Desert Vibe Hosts:  • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com [https://walterrichardson.com]   • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net [https://glengardner.net]   • Jamirae / The Blindsiders: https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/ [https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/]   The Desert Vibe Marketing & Website Team • Emma & James Mattison : https://emmaandjames.music [https://emmaandjames.music] #TheDesertVibe #ArizonaMusic #LiveMusicArizona #PhoenixMusic #TempeAZ

What If Your Day Job Is The Muse | The Desert Vibe · Ep 38

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 [http://Ptna.bandcamp.com] • first open mic memories and why Tempe Center for the Arts felt like turning pro • performing as vulnerability and self-healing rather than “being confident” • what listener feedback means when a song lands deeply • balancing parks and recreation work with a serious music practice • how Arizona nature and solitude feed the songwriting process • Why the Arizona music scene feels open across styles • Justin’s studio approach with guitar, synths, drum machines, and field recordings • the real meaning behind the PTNA name and the desert patina story • what’s next: EP vs album thinking, upcoming shows, and licensing goals Check out "PTNA" (Justin Olson) on BandCamp: http://Ptna.bandcamp.com [http://Ptna.bandcamp.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565024/support] Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast] Get the Desert Vibe Podcast swag and support the show! https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products] The Desert Vibe Hosts:  • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com [https://walterrichardson.com]   • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net [https://glengardner.net]   • Jamirae / The Blindsiders: https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/ [https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/]   The Desert Vibe Marketing & Website Team • Emma & James Mattison : https://emmaandjames.music [https://emmaandjames.music] #TheDesertVibe #ArizonaMusic #LiveMusicArizona #PhoenixMusic #TempeAZ

What If Starting Over Is The Whole Point | The Desert Vibe · Ep 37

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 ears  • How the duo works without rehearsals and why that sparks songs  • The “free range music” solo show and the early influences behind it  • What makes the Phoenix and Arizona musician network feel like a co-op  • Studio memories, last gigs before the road, and the guitars he’s packing  • Flagstaff Folk Festival changes plus a Route 66 songwriting contest  • Our summer travel notes on venues, heat escapes, and where to scout stages  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565024/support] Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast] Get the Desert Vibe Podcast swag and support the show! https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products] The Desert Vibe Hosts:  • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com [https://walterrichardson.com]   • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net [https://glengardner.net]   • Jamirae / The Blindsiders: https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/ [https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/]   The Desert Vibe Marketing & Website Team • Emma & James Mattison : https://emmaandjames.music [https://emmaandjames.music] #TheDesertVibe #ArizonaMusic #LiveMusicArizona #PhoenixMusic #TempeAZ

How Tempe’s Mayor Sees Music Powering A City | The Desert Vibe · Ep 36

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/ [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 a love of cooking into nonprofit fundraising  • Tempe’s live music culture and how parks help it grow  • Entertainment as economic development and a citywide differentiator  • The Mill Avenue refresh and why infrastructure shapes nightlife  • Ideas for a signature Tempe music festival that honors legacy acts and lifts new artists  • How cities can support local musicians through resources, permits, and getting to yes  • Why small local shows matter as much as big festivals Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565024/support] Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast] Get the Desert Vibe Podcast swag and support the show! https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products] The Desert Vibe Hosts:  • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com [https://walterrichardson.com]   • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net [https://glengardner.net]   • Jamirae / The Blindsiders: https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/ [https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/]   The Desert Vibe Marketing & Website Team • Emma & James Mattison : https://emmaandjames.music [https://emmaandjames.music] #TheDesertVibe #ArizonaMusic #LiveMusicArizona #PhoenixMusic #TempeAZ

Who Are You When The Mic Turns Off | The Desert Vibe · Ep 35

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 [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 collapsed  • learning to speak to one listener at a time and mean it  • sobriety, depression, and why late-night radio can be a lifeline  • building bands as a singer and shaping a personal sound  • curating jazz programming, balancing classics with new releases  • the flood of weekly submissions and how quality gets judged  • losing gigs during COVID, moving homes, and broadcasting remotely  • the growth of the Phoenix jazz scene, venues, and music education  • letting other artists record your songs and releasing control  • what live concerts and great performances give back over time Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565024/support] Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast] Get the Desert Vibe Podcast swag and support the show! https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products [https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products] The Desert Vibe Hosts:  • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com [https://walterrichardson.com]   • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net [https://glengardner.net]   • Jamirae / The Blindsiders: https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/ [https://www.facebook.com/theblindsiders/]   The Desert Vibe Marketing & Website Team • Emma & James Mattison : https://emmaandjames.music [https://emmaandjames.music] #TheDesertVibe #ArizonaMusic #LiveMusicArizona #PhoenixMusic #TempeAZ