October 2009 E-News

Quote of the Month
“It’s not life that matters. It’s the courage that we bring to it.” Yogi Tea label

Blog
October’s harvest moon and Fall will be in bloom when I head north to Eaton, NH this month to begin recording in earnest my John Lennon tribute project with good old friend Tom Dean of Devonsquare. I am projecting this recording’s release for JL’s 70th birthday in 2010. This will be as big, if not bigger in scope than our Time It Was Simon & Garfunkel songbook CD that Neal and I did with Pete Fornatale last year. In fact Pete has already signed up to write the liner notes for it and Neal has volunteered to play some lead guitar against Tommy’s amazing rhythm tracks. It’ll primarily feature acoustic versions of John’s Beatles’ songs, some of them interwoven and “smashed” together, plus snippets of John’s voice detailing many of those songs. It will also feature montage snippets (there’s that word again) of his more emotive songs beginning with the word “I” - preceded by his plaintive passionate “Is there anybody going to listen to my story…” from Girl. This project will be a blast, a true labor of LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Meanwhile it’s John’s 69th birthday on the October 8th. We love you John. We miss you still and always will.

ATS has been selected to perform at one of the Far West Folk Alliance’s Premier Showcases in Irvine, CA next month. To our west coast contingency, we were unfortunately unable to book dates to surround it this time out but we’re hoping to start playing the western region on a more regular basis, especially if all goes well in Irvine.

Happy 35th Birthday my dear son Rufus! Fare the well Mary Travers.

September 2009 E-News

1. Quote of the Month
"Live with reverence for yourself and others." Yogi Tea label

2. Blog
This September we'll be saying goodbye to summer and hello to autumn, or will it be the other way around? It will also be filled with lots of good live music so please check out all the details here or on our website Tours Dates page. August was very laid back for Neal and me. We did however perform a few special shows including Chad and Hillary's glorious wedding in Rhode Island. We debuted "Fools Like Us" from our Days of Horses CD as their processional song so expect to hear us finally start performing it live.
We're definitely attending the Far West Folk Alliance conference in Irvine, CA from November 6-8 this year and hope to surround it with a few other dates. If anyone is interested in us playing a private party or special event while we're coming or going please contact our agent Bobbi Dickerman at bobbi@monarchmusicagency.com. We're looking forward to playing the west on a more regularly basis now, especially if all goes well at the conference. Our latest release, The Persecution & Restoration of Aztec Two-Step, continues to sell well so thanks to all you who purchased it. We hope everyone on our mailing list (and around the world) will support this 2-disc, 44-song CD and our other recording projects found in our Aztec Two-Step store.

Fare thee well Ted Kennedy, Jim Smith, Willie DeVille, Les Paul and “Smooth Smitty from the City,” Brian Smith.

August 2009 E-News

1. Quote of the Month
"Your head must bow to your heart." Yogi Tea label

2. Blog
August is here and summer is just around the corner. What a wacky summer - wonderful, but wacky!
July was filled with magical music moments and enough memories to fill a lifetime. Spending quality time with our hosts Rusty and Betsy for their 25th wedding anniversary celebration in Lake Placid (not to mention a visit to Donnelly's Ice Cream parlor in Saranac Lake where they only serve one flavor per day and it's always mixed with vanilla in the creamiest soft serve twirl on earth), then singing at the band shell beside Mirror Lake a few days later. Motoring down to Martha's Vineyard to play in the amazing Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs benefitting the Chikumbuso AIDS Community in Zambia, Africa was also very special. Our good friend Sabrina works tirelessly on their behalf. Playing the Mitchell Horse Farm Festival with Jon Pousette-Dart and his amazing band mates, the father and son boys of Beaucoup Blue (who are joining us on our Halloween gig at The Turning Point) and The THE BAND Band who do a remarkable job replicating the music of The Band was a definite highlight. Playing our S&G show with Freddy on bass for the first time and Pete Fornatale narrating at Infinity Music Hall will never be forgotten. The power went out from a horrific thunderstorm towards the end of Bridge Over Troubled Water when 300 plus voices suddenly rose up, "Like a bridge over troubled waters, I will ease your mind...," finishing the song with us a capella. Pure magic! We had a great picnic with many friends and lots o music, our brand new 2-disc compilation, The Persecution & Restoration of Aztec Two-Step is selling surprisingly well and my New York Mets are surging. Life is good!

July 2009 E-News

1. Quote of the Month

"The only tool you need is kindness." Yogi Tea label

2. Blog

We welcome in July and begin to say goodbye to fireflies. Those precious little angels that wing across our evening summer skies. Since moving to Piermont, NY last month we've been treated to some magnificent fireworks by these splendid little creatures. We're also visited by a small herd of deer that casually graze across our property during the day and frequently bed down in our side yard, especially during evening rains. The huge oaks that line our driveway have kept them fairly well sheltered from the relentless storms. It seems our northeast weather patterns have become reminiscent of the great northwest this past month. Let us begin to petition Sun Ra. Did I mention our wild turkeys too?

The month of June brought many wonderful shows including a marvelous surprise 50^th birthday bash for our pal Budd Mishkin of NY One. July bodes well as well. You must see Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, CT, even if it's not to see us perform our S&G Songbook show with Pete Fornatale on July 24. If you love the music of The Band (and who doesn't) we hope you'll come see us play with The ‘THE BAND' Band, an amazing 5-piece group that devotedly tributes the music of this iconic American roots band. The remarkable Jon Pousette-Dart Band and Beaucoup Blue, the equally remarkable father and son duo from Philadelphia will also join us on July 18 at Mitchell Farm in Salem, CT. This annual event that ATS helped launch in 2007 has now blossomed into a full blown festival to support their home for retired horses. This is one great cause. TTBB will also be performing other NE dates this summer so please check their website for more details. www.theTheBandband.com.

Last but not least, Renassiance Records in conjunction with It's About Music has just released a 44-song compilation of our past recordings in a tidy two-disc set. The cover art, conceived and designed by Dean Sciarra of IAM, is almost as surreal as it's title, The Persecution & Restoration of Aztec Two-Step. We hope you'll support this endeavor. I've been nudging Neal about making a new studio album this year. I want to record it live with our dear Freddy Holman on bass. Live is where our magic lies. Our shows have been stupendous with Fred back on board these past several weeks. The healing has begun.

June 2009 E-News

1. Quote of the Month
"Recognize that the other person is you." Yogi Tea label

2. Blog
June has changed her tune and has literally busted out all over, borrowing from Mssrs. Simon & Hammerstein. Yours truly has also changed ‘his' address to the lovely town of Piermont, NY - home of Turning Point Café - where coincidentally I'll be sharing the bill with slide guitarist extraordinaire Pat Wictor on June 13. This is a beautiful and secluded old rental property that sits on a hill just above this adorable Hudson River hamlet. I would have preferred to buy now rather then rent but the house gods had different plans after failing a routine septic check on a home where our bid had actually been accepted. The seller would not negotiate, not even one dime down, and sold it "as is" to another buyer. We'll start looking again right after the New Year. The search will continue, but the good news is this magnificent old estate home will be a truly lovely place to live for now and will also be a great spot for a summer music and picnic bash.

The month of May brought many wonderful fun shows that our ‘good buddy' and bassist Freddy Holman joined us on. Fred is boldly reemerging back into life after losing his wife and soul mate Donna in late March of this year. One of the standout shows was at the Warwick Valley Winery where we got to play (among others) one of my all-time favorite Bob Dylan tunes, "4th Time Around" at their annual Dylan fest. We also got to hear Professor Louie and The Crowmatics perform for the first time. What a band! Freddy will be joining us lots more in the near future including our Simon & Garfunkel Songbook show with Pete Fornatale at the incredibly beautiful Infinity Hall in Norfolk, Ct on July 24th. As grueling and disappointing as these past several months have been after losing out on house after house, knowing what Freddy has had to endure puts everything into perspective. Everyday is a blessing. Everyday matters. Everyday counts.

3. If Times Are Tough
For you folks who've lost jobs or suffered other calamities and are in deep economic crises mode, please write to rex@aztectwostep.com and we will send you a free CD of your choice to help lift your spirits in these difficult times. We'll also do our best to get you in to see one of our shows in 2009.

4. Calling All Angels
I am still optimistic and we will continue our search for a home, even after losing out on yet another property. I have come up with some creative means to raise funds to increase our chances of purchasing our dream domicile. If you haven't yet, please take a moment to read how you can participate, and help us in our quest. Calling All Angels.

5. Links Link
We have two new listings this month! If you are self-employed and want your business listed on our website's Links link, please send me rex@aztectwostep.com a short blurb and the contact information you want listed. Please take a moment to peruse it as a show of solidarity for our little online community we're trying to establish here. There are some amazing services being offered.

May 2009 E-News

In This Newsletter:

1. Quote of the Month
2. Blog
3. If Times Are Tough (Free CD)
4. Calling All Angels
5. Links Link

1. Quote of the Month
“Uplift everybody and uplift yourself.” Yogi Tea label

2. Blog
I doubt if May will actually “stay” to quote Paul Simon but she’s here for the rest of the month so damn the swine flu scare and let’s all get out and enjoy her while we can. Speaking of poor little piggies, The World Health Organization is changing the name of swine flu to its formal name, H1N1 influenza A, in order to stop the needless slaughter of these adorable little creatures. Read all about it! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090430/ap_on_he_me/un_who_swine_flu_16

Backing up a bit, our dear friend and bassist Freddy Holman joined us at our joyous Friends of Music Mansion concert on April 26th. It’s the first time Fred has played with us since his wife Donna passed away last month and naturally, in a very long time prior to her passing. It felt so good to have our good buddy on stage with us again. We really rocked the house with Freddy back in the fold. Thanks so much to all of you who sent your condolences to Fred via this newsletter, he greatly appreciated it. Freddy will be joining us lots more in the near future including some of our Simon & Garfunkel Songbook shows. We’ll announce his S&G debut. Betty Davis once said that “getting old ain’t for sissies.” Well guess what, neither is buying a house. You can read more about this on my www.rexmarchfowler.com blog. Please scroll down to see where ATS will be performing this month including my two solo home fundraiser concerts in Maine and NH.

3. If Times Are Tough
For you folks who’ve lost jobs or suffered other calamities and are in deep economic crises mode, please write to rex@aztectwostep.com and we will send you a free CD of your choice to help lift your spirits in these difficult times. We'll also do our best to get you in to see one of our shows in 2009.

4. Calling All Angels
We are still optimistic in our search for a home, even after losing yet another bid. I have come up with some creative means to raise funds to increase our chances of purchasing our dream domicile. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to read how you can participate, and help us in our quest! Calling All Angels.

5. Links Link
If you are self-employed and want your business listed on our website’s Links link, please send me rex@aztectwostep.com a short blurb and the contact information you want listed. Please take a moment to peruse it as a show of solidarity for our little online community we’re trying to establish here. There are some amazing services being offered.

April 2009 E-News

In This Newsletter:

1. Quote of the Month
2. Blog
3. If Times Are Tough (Free CD)
4. Calling All Angels
5. Links Link


1. Quote of the Month
“To learn, read. To know, write. To master, teach.” Yogi Tea label

2. Blog
Too sad for adequate words but Donna Holman, our bassist Fred Holman’s wife, passed away last month after a long courageous battle with cancer. Donna began teaching at and eventually owned and ran the Building Blocks Montessori School on Staton Island, NY where she and Fred resided. Donna was beloved and cherished by countless children and their families and was Freddy’s one true love. Fred, Neal and I played Strangers, Highway Song, and So Easy at her wake. That we could all live this exemplary life. Fare thee well sweet Donna. Here is a link to her obituary: http://www.silive.com/obituaries/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1237553114206730.xml&coll=1

3. If Times Are Tough
For you folks who’ve lost jobs or suffered other calamities and are in deep economic crises mode, please write to rex@aztectwostep.com and we will send you a free CD of your choice to help lift your spirits in these difficult times. We'll also do our best to get you in to see one of our shows in 2009.

4. Calling All Angels
This is not a request for a hand out, just a hand. We lost yet another house bid last month but are keeping the faith. Please take a moment to read how you can help Bobbi and I purchase a home. http://www.rexmarchfowler.com

5. Links Link
If you are self-employed and want your business listed on our website’s Links link, please send me rex@aztectwostep.com a short blurb and the contact information you want listed. Please take a moment to peruse it as a show of solidarity for our little online community we’re trying to establish here. There are some amazing services being offered.