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November E-News Highlights

My Fellow Americans, please vote on November 4th, 2008. It’s the greatest expression of freedom in any society, even if you dislike the candidates up for election, even if you think your favorite candidates are going to win (or lose!) with or without your vote, even if you have to wait in line for a long time before casting your vote. Also, regardless if your candidates win or lose, let’s all roll up our sleeves and get involved for the common good in our communities, our country, our world. And please, let’s end the shocking divisiveness that is strangling our great nation and come together reasonably with respect for each other and our differences, peacefully for a better America, a better world and a better way of life for this and subsequent generations. These troubled times demand that we do.

In case you missed it, our Simon & Garfunkel Songbook CD,
Time It Was will be available November 1st on our website http://www.aztectwostep.com/store.htm and at our Little Theater concert with Pete Fornatale in White Plains, NY. Here is an excerpt from the Kennebec Journal in Augusta, Maine, our first review so far:

This 28-track, 76 minute, 17 seconds-long CD was recorded live in 90.7 WFUV’s studio A and features just the two guitars and voices of Shulman and Fowler… period. And guess what — they don’t need anything else. Taking the music and lyrics of Paul Simon with the Aztec Two-Step signature style of vocal harmonies, you have not a carbon-copy of these classic songs but a true and distinctive — as well as loving — translation/transition of past to present. Add to that the thoughts, observations and narration of Pete Fornatale (he also contributes the liner notes on the booklet, as well as some fancy whistling on “Punky’s Dilemma”) who marries the music with the history of the famous duo throughout the entire album. You have a slice of musical memories realized by these equally impressive singer-songwriters. Lucky Clark, 10/23/08 http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/2084305918.html

Thank you Lucky and thank you Scott Yonan of Rhode Island for suggesting the CD title, Time It Was. Thank you all for your on-going support - we couldn’t possibly do it without you!

PEACE if we want it, Rex & Neal

P.S. Here’s a link to another great review, this time by Bob McKillop of Maine Folk Music.com about our recent One Longfellow Square concert in Portland, Maine: www.mainefolkmusic.com

P.S.S. It’s not too late to book ATS for a private party or your
New Years Eve bash. Damn the apocalypse and call today!
201-207-5304 or bobbi@aztectwostep.com

P.S.S.S. Thanks to all of you who purchased Stargazers, my kid’s of all ages (9 to 92) CD. 32 down, 2668 to go!

October E-News Highlights

Fast times at D.C. High. I know it’s shameful and perverse but there’s a part of me that is delighting in the pending apocalypse. I’m referring NOT to the purported rapturous sky fairy apocalypse; rather to the fiscal apocalypse our nation is currently engulfed in as my meager 401(k) fritters away. Of course this couldn’t be worse timing for the average Joe (like me!) and the politicians whose jobs are also at stake with the November election at hand. Win, lose or draw, it’s heartening to see all the American colors across the great divide rising up, dialoging and demanding their representatives in Washington be held accountable. Democracy at its finest! Meanwhile, truth be known, much of my misguided enthusiasm is for its therapeutic renderings; diverting the pain of yet another colossal collapse by my beloved New York Mets. As much as I loved how Jerry Manuel guided the team with intelligence, humor and grace after the shameful (yet necessary) firing of Willie Randolph, and therefore would love to see Mr. Manuel return as the manager next season, it might be wiser for ownership to bring Dr. Henry Jay Heimlich in to manage (or better yet maneuver) the team until he can expurgate their propensity for choking down the stretch in the heat of a pennant race. OK, perhaps GM Minaya should bring in a few new relievers as well. Without my Mets involved, wouldn’t it be grand if the Chicago Cubs won the World Series on the 100th anniversary of their last championship? Let’s Go Cubbies! Postscript: Ok, how about Dodgers vs. Red Sox in the fall classic? It would be surreal to see Manny being Manny being managed by Torre in Fenway. Go Sox!


On a more serious note, the Daniel Pearl Foundation has invited us and thousands of musicians worldwide to participate this month in raising awareness for their cause.

“Daniel Pearl was a newspaper reporter and a violin player who traveled the world and used music to make friends in many countries. In 2002 he was murdered by terrorists while investigating a story in Pakistan. His family decided to carry on Danny’s work and use music to help people learn to respect each other and honor diversity. October 10 was Danny’s birthday…. This month, all over the world, musicians of all kinds are dedicating concerts to our shared belief that even though we may be of different races, religions or ethnic backgrounds, we can all work together to achieve a better, hate-free world for everyone.”

http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/dedications.php

Perhaps we can embrace these sentiments not just for this month, but day in and day out for the rest of our lives. What better place to rededicate the practice of these principles than right here in our troubled and divided nation? We are honored to dedicate our October 2008 concerts to this courageous and noble man, Daniel Pearl.

A Fanciful Thought: our mailing list guru Chip Bemis has informed me that there are now over 2700 of you beautiful people on our mailing list. My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you for signing up and to those of you who ordered Stargazers, my kids of all ages CD from our website last month. BUT, if all 2700 of you ordered it now (or before the end of this holiday season) it would easily pay for its total cost and a national promotional campaign too.

Mr. Fowler, I am Marlee. We saw each other at the Heartland Concert this past Saturday night. I am 8 years old and I think your kid’s CD is great. I really like number 6. Thank you for the CD. Marlee Mullane

AND, if you could also order just one or two ATS CDs or DVDs between now and then, Neal and I could pay for and promote our LIVE Simon & Garfunkel Songbook CD featuring Pete Fornatale due out this November 1st.

DAMN THE APOCALYPSE AND ORDER TODAY!! http://www.aztectwostep.com/store.htm

Peace, Love and Harmony,
Rex & Neal

P.S. We have lots of open dates this coming December. How about hiring us for an ‘Almost Apocalypse’ Holiday Party?

Cheers!

September E-News Highlights

Aztec Two-Step September E-News

September again. Fall’s beckoning call. I love the seasonal changes and this is one of the best. Spring always thrills as we leave behind winter’s chill and there’s nothing better than summer’s corn and tomatoes. Winter of course puts all things in perspective. I am leaving for a 12 day vacation in Maine as I write this. Hey, it’s the way life ought to be. It’s vacation land. Lots of golf and ‘lobstah’ on the itinerary and visits with dear friends. And of course the weather will be glorious day after day as I flirt with par every time I tee it up!

Neal and I just finished editing and mixing our “live” Simon & Garfunkel Songbook CD with engineer Matt Billy. Matt was great and a joy to work with. Thanks to a fan’s suggestion a few months ago, (please write me again so we can give you a CD credit!) we’re calling it “Time It Was” from Paul Simon’s “Old Friends” lyric and a featured song on the album. This is the perfect succinct title for this project “and what a time it was” as we collaborated with DJ extraordinaire Pete Fornatale for a WFUV fund drive last April. Pete’s narration is simply superb and brings this recording into a whole new realm for us. Our friend Rosie Rinsler www.rosiesoriginalcards.com has created an original piece of cover art which captures the 60’s motif we were looking for. Pete, Neal and I are very excited about this recording which will be ready to ship well before the 2008 holiday season.

Stargazers, my first ever kid’s CD is officially out and now available on our ATS website http://www.aztectwostep.com/store.htm. I’ve just begun selling it at our concerts recently and have gotten nothing but rave reviews from the “adults” who have purchase it. Stargazers features six of my originals and six amazing cover songs that collectively make for a unique children’s album. Just solid sweet songs that I think will appeal to kids of all ages. Margo Hennebach and Adrienne Jones of Mad Agnes sing magnificently on backing vocals and Mark Saunders (also of Mad Agnes) helped with the musical instrumentation and production. Naturally we’re having a Back to School Special on it this month.

Happy Trails, Rex & Neal

Review of Rex's "Stargazers" CD

Dear Rex,

I love your CD! My favorite song is House at Pooh Corner. I also like All Together Now and Stargazers.

Cristina Sage
Age 8

August E-News Highlights

Aztec Two-Step E-News

Missives, Musings & Malapropos....

Another malapropos compliments of the king himself, Yogi Berra: "It gets late early out there."

July was a wonderful month filled with many memorable moments. First and foremost, my Mets went on a 10-0 run to recaptured first place in the NL East only to fall a half game back of our rivals the Phillies. I never thought I'd say this but kudos to Carlos Delgado for carrying the team all month long. I'm sure the boys of summer will give it their best the rest of the way. Should be an exciting race to the playoffs.

We teamed up with our buddy Pete Fornatale again to play our first outdoor Simon & Garfunkel Songbook Show at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington, NY. There was an overflowing crowd of 4600 people in attendance. This was our first time playing there since it was renamed to honor Harry Chapin who died tragically on July 16, 1981, almost twenty-seven years to the day of our performance. Harry, we hardly knew ya. We also teamed up with longtime band mates Freddy Holman and Marshal Rosenberg to another overflowing crowd at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport, CT. Local resident and musician extraordinaire Robin Batteau of Buskin & Batteau fame sat in on violin for the entire set. We'll be sharing a bill with B&B at Cheney Hall in Manchester, CT in February 09. Another highlight was returning to Brownfield, Maine to play Carol Noonan's (of Knots and Crosses fame) Stone Mountain Arts Center. Carol and her husband Jeff Flagg opened one of, if not the best 200-seat venue in America. "It is housed inside a striking 32-by-72-foot timber-frame barn built a decade ago for Flagg's business, which makes fishing nets. Jeff, a Maine native and former commercial fisherman, now constructs his nets in the barn's large basement." Other July highlights included Rosetta & Bryon Eddy's 20th and Nancy & Bob Cleveland's 25th Anniversary Parties. They were truly lovely events and very touching to be a part of. Yummy food too!

"August, die she must..." and now Artie Traum is gone. I met Artie when we first arrived in NYC in the spring of '71. He and his brother Happy were already an established folk duo managed by Albert Grossman and recording for Capital Records. They were playing all the major folk festivals and the cooler clubs in Greenwich Village - the places Neal and I wanted to play. Artie (and Happy too!) was always very friendly and supportive whenever we performed together. In 1993 Artie and Happy Traum released The Test Of Time, which included my song 'Ban Vinai' - inspired by a weeklong visit to the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Northern Thailand in August of 1986. My sister Andrea was based there for many years processing the Hmong (Meo) and Yao (Mien) Hill Tribe people who, at great peril and facing certain death, fled across the Mekong River from Laos after Vietnam fell. This is the only song of mine that was ever covered by an established artist or band. I will be forever grateful for this honor and for Artie's kindness. He was a dear heart.

July E-News Highlights

Aztec Two-Step E-News

Missives, Musings & Malapropos....

First a malaprop compliments of the king himself, Yogi Berra. "It ain't over till it's over." Sadly, it is over now for Tim Russert and George Carlin. When I turned the BIG SIX OH! in September 07, several people kindly suggested that 60 was now the new 30. OK! I liked that. But after thinking about it, I eventually came up with the best Carlin-esq line I could muster. "No," said I, "60 is how old my grandparents were......just before they kicked the bucket!" It's reality now. We boomers ain't babies no more. In fact, we're dropping like flies. Oh well. C'est la vie. Que sera. Or, as our good buddy Dave Sleight likes to say, "A happy Woody Guthrie on ya!"(So long, it's been good to know you.) And boy, was it ever good to know Tim Russert and George Carlin.

TR was the real deal. An advocate for working class, taxpaying Americans who vote and who are trying to hang on and earn a fair and decent living in this country. These were the roots from which he sprang. No pol itics. No punditry. Just straight forward and often tough questions aimed at the accountability of those wielding the most power; most often in Washington. Plus, how could you not like a guy who was a diehard Buffalo Bills fan.

My earliest recollection of GC was his hippie dippy weatherman skit, probably on the Smothers Brothers show back in the mid-sixties. Even at 71, he never seemed to lose his kid-like innocence and enthusiasm for life, for our quirky American language, and for the everyday world we live in: large issues or small. Our counterculture hero's jokes usually targeted misplaced shame, religious hypocrisy and linguistic quirks. Here are just a few of his chestnuts gleaned from the Hartford Courant:

"Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?"

"I'm completely in favor of separation of church and state. These institutions completely screw us up on their own, so both of them together is certain death."

"The word bipartisan usually means that some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out."

"One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor."

"Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?"

"Whose cruel idea was it for the word 'lisp' to have an 's' in it?"

"Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?"

"If the No. 2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still No. 2?"

"One nice thing about egoists, they don't talk about other people."

"When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front row seat."

"The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time and what do you get at the end of it? A Death! What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backward. You should die first and get it out of the way. Then you live in an old-age home; you get kicked out when you become too young then you get a gold watch and go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol; you party; then you get ready for high school. You go to grade school; you become a kid; you play; you have no responsibilities. You become a little baby; you go back into the womb where you spend your last nine months floating... and you finish it off with an orgasm!"

What more can one say except thank you for tuning in this month and Happy Birthday America!

Peace (and love) if you want it,

Rex & Neal

P.S. In deference to Dan Fogelberg's brilliance and my commitment to listen to more of his musical canon since his sad departure, I am in total awe of To The Morning. "And maybe there are seasons, and maybe they change, and maybe to love is not so strange..."

June 08 Newsletter Highlights

We’re delighted to announce the debut of our NEW ATS WEBSITE this month designed by the saintly Alicia Cornelio. Alicia’s husband Dave and I are fanatic NY Mets fans and take in a game or two together every season. After taking 3 of 4 from the Dodgers, it looks they are finally turning things around. (If you are a true Mets fan you know these will be famous last words!) As much as we loved our first website which was built by dear Garth Cormier way back in 2000, Alicia’s design adds a more streamlined look and will be absolutely easier to navigate. We’ve added a few new links such as an interactive blog, set list requests, quotes and a “links” link which will feature websites of favorite artists and friends who we support and admire greatly. Due to time restraints we’ve only listed one link so far (but what a one!) and will continue adding on to it as we roll along. Don’t be shy to email us or better yet, post your comments or suggestions on this blog once you’ve had a chance to look it over.

Two other notes of interest include the imminent release of our ‘Live’ Simon & Garfunkel Songbook Show CD with accompanying narration by the amazing Pete Fornatale. We are fine tuning it now with engineer Matt Billy after recording live last month at the WFUV-FM studios. This was done in conjunction with FUV’s spring 2008 fundraiser. A very enthusiastic audience was on hand to support us and WFUV at their new state of the art facility. We have not yet decided on a title but perhaps “Feelin’ Groovy” would suffice nicely. Suggestions anyone? The second “note” of interest (at least to me!) is the debut of my first ever children’s CD entitled, Stargazers (Songs for Kids of All Ages). This album features six cover songs (two of Donovan’s, and one each from John Lennon & Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Paul Simon and Kenny Loggins) plus six of my originals - all with backing instrumentation and vocals by dear Mad Agnes. For a sneak peak of Nancy Cote’s excellent cover art for Stargazers click on the discography link and scroll down to my solo section. You can look for both of these CDs later this summer.

We’d like to thank all of you who came out to hear us play last month (and me solo!) and who responded to our May mailer with personal notes about Dan Fogelberg and his music. Still so sad, but what an amazing legacy.

As always, we truly appreciate and adore you all. Pace and prosperity in these troubling tumultuous times.

Sincerely,

Rex & Neal

Set List Requests

Now your song requests can be heard regardless of whether you are shy, embarrassed, or merely too inebriated to articulate the English language. Yes, that's right, there's no longer any reason to yell out "Whipping Post" at an Aztec Two-Step show.

To improve your chances of hearing what you want by at least 78 percent; tell us your name, the venue and city and the song(s) you wish to hear by submitting your requests below. Please Post your requests at least three days before the show. A two-song limit please.

After clicking on "Post a Comment" link below, scroll all the way to the bottom to post your comments .

Jon Sencabaugh writes to ATS

Dear Rex and Neal,
My name is Jonathan Sencabaugh of Medford Mass. I am a 22 year old singer songwriter, guitarist and drummer. I have my own band called The Influenced (www.myspace.com/theinfluencedband). I just want to say thank you for your songs. I am so passionate about music and my father just introduced me to your songs. He has been a huge fan since his college days at UMass in the mid seventies. He introduced me first to "Highway Song" and it is literally one of the best songs I have ever heard. Its such a haunting song and I can not stop listening to it. I feel so in touch with it. I know you must get a lot of emails and may not have time to respond but just as long as your read this email I will be happy. This music is what makes life so beautiful. I am going to be a father in a few months and being so young, it hasn't been all fun. My family and friends are real supportive but not they are not the only things getting me by. Your music is really giving me hope and no other music has really done this to me before. You both just play so well together and I needed to let you know. I hope to see you play live someday and I am going to be checking out any news of shows in the near future. Thank you again.
A new fan,
Jon Sencabaugh
jsencie@yahoo.com

May 08 Newsletter

I don’t know why it has suddenly washed over me that Dan Fogelberg is gone. Maybe it was hearing his Souvenirs CD recently while driving with my friend Bobbi to one of our gigs. I received some mail immediately after his passing last December but it took until now for it to truly resonate with me. Dan is one of the singer songwriters that I always admired and wished we could have shared a bill with. “Same Old Lang Syne” is one of my all-time favorite songs, period. I think “Part of the Plan” is my second favorite of his and of course “Leader of The Band” is such a compelling song, especially knowing that his father really did conduct bands. Truth be told, I have barely kept up with his recordings but plan on immersing myself in his music now. While reading his on line bio I loved that he described himself as being “fearless” as a young aspiring artist. I know first hand this is what it takes to succeed in this crazy business. He (like me) dropped out of college to chase his dreams. Ironically, Dan ended up living and dying in the state I grew up in and dared to leave against all odds to pursue a career in music. One day I would love to return to Maine as well. After all is said and done, I can only say what an incredible life lived, how blessed he was and how blessed we are to have Dan Fogelberg’s music indelibly woven in our life’s fabric.

In June, Neal and I are performing several shows with Danny O’Keefe, another amazing singer songwriter. This will be our first time on the same bill with Danny and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about this. Besides having a top-5 Billboard hit with “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues,” Danny also had several Fm classics like, “Angel Spread Your Wings,” “The Road” which Jackson Browne covered on his live album, “Magdelana” and of course, “Catfish” which David Bromberg played on as well. Danny also has a co-write with Bob Dylan, a duet sung with Linda Ronstadt and has been covered by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and a cast of thousands.
OK! Thanks again for your support and please do come out and see us while we all still can.
Peace, Rex & Neal

March 08 Newsletter

In like a Lion out like an avalanche. OK, so much for global warming (just kidding!) as we shovel out here in the northeast. February was a relatively quiet month for ATS but yours truly had a fabulous time indeed by playing two shows solo in the Woodstock, NY area before traveling to Vegas (baby!) to see Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles extravaganza, LOVE. If you have only one vacation left in your lifetime you absolutely must see this show. I also got to hang in Tucson, AZ afterward with my two main Maine ladies Anna and Ann who treated me to LOVE for my 60th birthday present. I’ve purposely left out their last names because as you know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! Tucson highlights included lots of hot tubs at Anna’s, golf on a beautiful sunny day w/Ann and an evening of delicious food and live music at Jim (of the Way Back Machine)and Rebecca Lipson’s home. Jim was instrumental in getting ATS to the Tucson Folk Festival back in 2005. I stayed an extra few days with Jim back then to see the amazing Sajuaro cactus in the even more amazing Sajuaro National Park. Life’s been good to me so far as well. So have my friends!

That’s about all the news that fits for now. Thank you all again and again for your undying ongoing support. As always, we can’t do it without you.
Peace & LOVE,
Rex (& Neal)

Thanks to our supporting DJs

Spealing of DJs, we'd like to give a special shout out to Jerry Rubino and Mike Marrone of XM 50- The Loft, for featuring our one hour on air concert the entire month of March. thanks also to Steve Randolph of WRNJ-AM and Bill Nutt of WNTI-FM who did on air interviews with me to help promote last month's Stanhope House Concert in New Jersey. We'd also like to thank all of you who came out to see us perform last month. We are blessed and honored by your ongoing support - and for over thirty-seven years now. We simply can't do it without you.

Radio WBJB Thanks

We had a wonderful time engaging with Tom Brennan and rich Robinson at WBJB radio on the campus of Brookdale community college in Lincroft, NJ this past week. we had originally scheduled this to promote our March 27th simon & garfunkel Songbook show with Pete Fornatale at Monmouth University and to help with the membership drive for this truly progressive FM station's fundraising efforts. Unfortunately, the MU show was cancelled a week before our scheduled performance. Never-the-less Pete, Neal and I kept our commitment to this fantastic public radio station and played live on air, then pre-recorded Pete's Saturday 'Mix Bag' show which has been airing on WBJB since 2002. Whoever sid no good deed goes unpunished got it wrong this time. The silver lining here, although too early to be official, is that WBJB and BCC may sponsor our S&G Songbook show on campus this coming fall in their elegant 360 seat Performing Arts Center. Did someone once say that living well is the best revenge, or was it hell knows no wrath like a folksinger (or DJ) socrned? LOL!