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

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

Phoenix Vs LA For Working Musicians | The Desert Vibe · Ep 34

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 [https://www.laurajoymusic.com] • comparing Phoenix and LA for access, pay, and day-to-day gigging • where working gigs come from, including private events and agency pipelines • using humor and presence to win loud rooms and mixed crowds • navigating gendered expectations and setting hard boundaries • building a percussive acoustic guitar approach through fingerstyle and classical technique • playing with high-level musicians who listen and leave space • the real cost of touring, including gas prices and travel logistics • why many great songs stay unreleased and how to think about value now 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

The Go To Violinist In Arizona | The Desert Vibe · Ep 33

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 [https://www.timsadow.com] • Tim’s early classical training plus learning by ear  • Building a versatile violin style through funk, Irish rock, and constant sitting in  • How we first crossed paths and why the Arizona scene keeps connections alive  • Playing within the music, leaving space, and knowing when not to play  • Why live performance still beats synthetic instruments and AI tracks  • The jump from “classical only” to improvising confidently on stage  • Studio approach, supporting vocals, and elevating original songs  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

Sandra Bassett Explains Why Artists Deserve More Pay | The Desert Vibe · Ep 32

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 [https://www.thesandrabassett.com] • negotiating a business major while keeping music central  • leaving corporate life and proving herself through a Japan audition  • rebuilding spaces and programs at Phoenix Center for the Arts  • teaching artists the business of being an artist through BIPOC Arts  • calling out stagnant musician pay and defining venue-artist partnership  • moving between Motown, blues, and jazz with authenticity  • using music as ministry and healing in healthcare settings  • making covers personal through key choice, arrangement, and leadership  • reframing Motown history through women’s leadership and civil rights impact  • explaining arts advocacy through economic impact and the “BIPOC dollar”  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