Aztec Two-Step

June 2011 E-News

2011-06-01T12:40:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Month

“Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” Al Bernstein

Rex’s Blog

Dear Friends, welcome to our official ‘After Rapture’ newsletter. Surprise, surprise, we’re still here and for this I am truly grateful because I have a great idea to share with you and Hershey’s, the manufacturers of Mounds and Almond Joy candy bars. Hey guys, would it be a sin to add a few almonds to the Mounds bar too? I know, sometimes you feel like a nut and all that stuff but by now everybody knows the dark chocolate in a Mounds bar is a much healthier choice than the milk chocolate of an Almond Joy bar, plus an almond or two in a Mounds bar would slow down that devilish sugar spike. I don’t think this modest proposal is heresy, in fact I think it’s a heavenly idea. So if you agree, come on, let’s join forces and start a campaign!

OK, moving right along, we’ve now recorded all sixteen songs slated for our upcoming Cause and Effect album. Neal and I will put the finishing touches on it later this month then harvest it this fall to commemorate our 40th anniversary together. As I mentioned before, this will be a stripped down all-acoustic album that features our good buddy and band mate Freddy Holman on bass. We’re revisiting old and debuting new “give a damn” songs from our vast and varied musical canon. We’re very excited about this record.

I want to give a thumbs up to my friend Alan Gerstel’s mesmerizing memoir “Swing – The Search for my father, Louis Prima.” If you’re a fan of biographies like me, auto or otherwise, this is a fascinating story. I have already ordered six copies to give to friends of mine who were adopted but it’s not a criteria for loving this book. To order please go to www.amazom.com and click on "Books" and then enter "SWING - the...." and the book will pop up. You can also visit Alan’s website www.swingthebook.com that includes a recent TV piece that aired about his search for his father. Alan has inspired me to get back to work on my own memoir tentatively titled, “The B-Side of Success.”

This is my last shout out for The Edna Project by our friends Seth Farber and Liz Queler who have brilliantly set some of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poetry to music.

Please don’t forget about the Imagined CD that celebrates the musical majesty of John Lennon and which is also up for IMA’s People’s Choice Award this July. Please VOTE FOR US ASAP and if you haven’t yet, please PICK ONE UP SOON!

Finally, if you’re planning a fundraiser or a private party and think we’d be a good fit, please contact our agent Bobbi. She is a delight to work with no matter how small or large your event or gathering may be.

May 2011 E-News

2011-05-02T08:27:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Month

"What potent blood hath modest May." Ralph W. Emerson

Rex’s Blog

I was saddened to learn that Phoebe Snow passed away last week at the tender age of 58. I remember with awe hearing “Poetry Man” for the first time on WNEW-FM. Her 1975 LP was one of, if not the most impressive debut albums of all-time. My then wife Joy and I literally wore that record out.

Phoebe was discovered at The Bitter End, a landmark folk club on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village where Neal and I had also played before we were discovered busking in Central Park on a sunny May afternoon in 1971.

The scuttlebutt on “Poetry Man” was that Phoebe had a gigantic crush on Buzzy Linhart, a lovely man and extremely talented musician who mentored her back then. I got to know Buzzy personally in the late seventies. He was a truly great singer, performer and songwriter in his own right but as fate allowed, his best known songs “Friends” and “The Love’s Still Growing” were made famous by Bette Midler and Carly Simon.

I feel blessed to have finally met Phoebe at a series of 9/11 benefit concerts in October of 2001 that ATS performed at along with Bruce Springsteen and a dozen other distinguished Jersey artists at The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ.

On a happier note, Spring is busting out all over and Neal, Freddy and I have already recorded ten songs for our Cause and Effect album. We’re revisiting many of our socially conscious songs as well as some newer ones that fit thematically with this concept. As I mentioned last month, it will be a stripped down all-acoustic record that captures the energy of our live performances. We hope to have it out this fall.

I’m still digging The Edna Project by our friends Seth Farber and Liz Queler who have brilliantly set some of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poetry to music.

Please don’t forget that my Imagined CD celebrating the musical majesty of John Lennon is up for the Independent Music Award’s People’s Choice Award this July. Please VOTE FOR US ASAP. If you haven’t already, please PICK ONE UP SOON!

Last but not least, if you’re planning a fundraiser or a private party, our agent Bobbi is a delight to work with no matter how small or large your event or gathering may be.

April 2011 E-News

2011-05-01T20:43:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Month

“April comes like an idiot, babbling and stewing flowers.” Edna St. Vincent Millay

Rex’s Blog

Happy April All, no foolin’!

Speaking of Edna St. Vincent Millay, if you’re a nut for her and her poetry like Risa & Laird Scranton and I are, you must check out The Edna Project. Our friends Seth Farber and Liz Queler have brilliantly set some of her poetry to music.

Sad news: I just learned my Imagined CD that honors the musical legacy of John Lennon lost the Independent Music Awards ‘Best Tribute Album’ competition. Yes we are disappointed but there’s still the equally important People’s Choice Award that will be announced later this summer - so if you haven’t yet, please VOTE FOR US ASAP. Music fans from around the world have until July 11 to cast their votes. I’ve never had an album elicit such passion from so many people since our Elektra album so please, if you haven’t yet, PICK ONE UP SOON!

March was a great month for us Two-Steppers. Our four ATS/S&G combo shows at The Phil in Naples, Florida were a delight, not to mention the 80-degree weather! Plus, our two 40^th Anniversary shows at The Sanctuary in Chatham, NJ with Pete Fornatale and Buskin & Batteau and at The Narrows were a total joy. We’ll be doing another 40^th Anniversary show with B&B at Infinity Hall on June 25. This is a must-see to believe venue and show if I do say so meself!

Neal, our bassist Freddy, and I will begin recording songs for our Cause and Effect (the working title) CD later this week at Paul Guzzone’s Triple Z studio in Pomona, NY. Paul produced our last studio album Days of Horses back in 2004, which many have compared to our 1972 debut album on Elektra. We’re revisiting many of our “give a damn” songs like War, Rabbit In The Moon, Shanty Town and Living In America, as well as some new songs that fit thematically with this concept. It will be a stripped down, all-acoustic, live in studio project that captures the energy of our live performances. We hope to have it ready to folk and roll by summer’s end.

April is rather lamb-like with just two shows scheduled. They include our 40^thAnniversary show at the marvelous TCAN in Natick, MA this Saturday the 2nd, and a Nu-Utopians show celebrating the songs of John Lennon at the equally marvelous Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH on Saturday the 23rd. As I stated earlier, Neal, Freddy and I will put this “down time” to good use by rehearsing and recording for a new CD as part of our 2011 anniversary celebration. With all the political and social upheaval going on here in the U.S. and abroad these days, this seems like a relevant and worthwhile endeavor.

March 2011 E-Newsletter

2011-03-08T18:31:00.001-05:00

Quote of the Month

“ '...then you should say what you mean', the March Hare went on. `I do,' Alice hastily replied; 'at least - at least I mean what I say - that's the same thing, you know.' ”
Lewis Carroll

Rex’s Blog

We made it! March 15th marks Aztec Two-Step’s 40th anniversary. March will also live up to its reputation for being “In like a Lion” as I begin the month touring Maine and celebrating the songs of John Lennon with my “Fab”- u- lous 7-piece ensemble, The Nu-Utopians. Great Nu-U News! Our Imagined CD was just nominated for the ‘Best Tribute Album’ of 2010 by the Independent Music Awards, a prestigious international competition. Please see all the details at the bottom of this blog. Hmmm, this could be a possible song title! OK, maybe “From The bottom of My Blog” would be better.

ATS kicks things off the following week with two shows in New Jersey including the Strand Center for the Arts in Lakewood and then back with our good friends at Sanctuary Concerts in Chatham for a gala celebration of our 40^thanniversary (including a slide show and cake!) and featuring very special guests Buskin & Batteau and Pete Fornatale. This is our first time back since the début of our Simon & Garfunkel Songbook show in 2005. Next, we head down to Florida, this time to perform at “The Phil” in Naples where we’ll be playing four shows combining ATS originals with Simon & Garfunkel songs. We’ll also throw in a few Everly Brothers for good measure!

March starts winding down a bit with our 40^thanniversary show at The Narrows in Fall River, MA, again with Buskin & Batteau as special guests; another benefit concert sponsored by Bruce John of Shaboo fame at the Bread Box in Willimantic, CT; then we reunite at a free event with the amazing Pete Fornatale narrating our Simon & Garfunkel Songbook show at the Budarz Theater @ The Ossining Public Library in Ossining, NY - a lovely new music venue and concert series started by dear hearts Alan & Ellen Marzelli.

April is rather lamb-like with just two shows scheduled so far. They include a 40^thanniversary show at the marvelous TCAN in Natick, MA and a Nu-Utopians show celebrating the songs of John Lennon at the equally marvelous Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH. However, Neal, Freddy and I will put this “down time” to good use by focusing on rehearsals for a live album of “give a damn” songs as part of our 2011 anniversary celebration. With all the social upheaval going on here in the U.S. and around the world these days, this seems like a relevant and worthwhile endeavor.
.
So here we are at the The Bottom of My Blog, a brand new hit single recently composed by yours truly about my amazing Nu-Utopians.

The Nu-Utopians Imagined CD was just nominated in the “Best Tribute Album” category of 2010 by the prestigious Independent Music Awards. Please VOTE FOR US @ People’s Choice Award. Music fans from around the world have until July 11 to cast their votes.

ABOUT IMA:

The Independent Music Awards is the only international program that connects artists to new revenue opportunities & a potential audience of more than 1 billion music fans.The “Judged Winners” will be determined by a panel of 62 influential artist and industry types including Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega, Adam Duritz, Seal, Aimee Mann, Shelby Lynne, Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and others, and will be announced in late March, 2011.

There are many artists previously on major labels like Jackson Browne this year, as well as notable indie label and self-released talent from around the globe who submitted their best work in 70 Song, Album, Video & Design categories. The competition receives submissions from more than 70 countries on 6 continents. Artists, managers and labels credit The IMAs for impacting their presence among talent buyers, programmers, media and fans.

Earning an IMA is more than just a badge of distinction. Produced by Music Resource Group, publisher of the popular industry contact database The Musician’s Atlas/AtlasOnline, and co-sponsored by eMusic, Jango, Musicati, AMI Entertainment, IMAtv, Dropcards, CMJ Music Marathon, NACA, The Planetary Group and others. The IMAs leverage its unrivaled access to performance, promotion & distribution opportunities to place winners & nominees in front of Talent Buyers, Film, TV & Gaming Music Supervisors, Media outlets, Licensing opportunities and 1 Billion music fans.

Back to Aztec Two-Step again, our new “first 40 years” T-shirts have been a big hit so far. For a look-see and complete details on these other merchandise items, tour dates, etc., please visit our ATS website.

September 2010 E-Newsletter

2010-10-28T20:09:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Month

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” John Lennon

Blog

September is here, my birth month, oh dear! It’s also the month when a year ago, I started the journey of mapping out, then recording, 22 superb John Lennon compositions with my collaborator Tom Dean of Devonsquare. Imagined seems like a dream to me now but because I dreamed it out loud with a friend, it is a reality as well. We launch our fall tour to promote our album as The John Lennon Song Project with a six-member band at Gracie Theatre in Bangor, Maine, just 45 miles north of Pittsfield where I grew up dreaming.

I want to reassure all of you that this project will in no way interfere with Aztec Two-Step. I’ll continue this year weaving in ATS dates with Neal who incidentally has been supportive and enthusiastic throughout this process. We’ll be celebrating our 40^th anniversary in 2011 with concerts all over the U.S. continuing through 2012, which will mark the 40^th year since our self-title debut album was released on Elektra Records in 1972. We’re also considering a new studio album to celebrate this significant anniversary. Believe me, no one’s more amazed by these 40 years than we are.

Meanwhile, I sincerely hope each one of you supports this labor of love in what would have been John’s 70^th birthday year. It still haunts and hurts that Lennon’s life ended so tragically but his songs live on as does his legacy as an activist and artist - perhaps the greatest of all time. Let’s put our sorrow aside and celebrate this amazing man’s artistry together. Lennon archivist Tony Traguardo has kindly put together a ten minute video tribute that will be shown where possible prior to each concert.

Ron Olesko of WFDU wrote:"Absolutely Brilliant! I've been listening non-stop. What an amazing job of paying homage to Lennon and the Beatles and creating music that has so much of your own style and class. I can't wait to go on the radio and start spinning tunes from it. Album of the year!!"

The official release date of Imagined is October 9^th - John’s 70^th birthday - but is available now on our ATS website. We’ll be performing live with Tom’s bandmate Alana MacDonald and three to four other talented musicians. Like the CD, the live show’s instrumentation features bass, acoustic and electric guitars, cello, violin, mandolin, accordion, chromatic harmonica and some very cool vocals. For complete details, song samples and Imagined fan quotes, you can visit the JLSP website.

October E-Newsletter

2010-10-28T20:04:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Month

“If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliché that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal..” John Lennon

Blog

We are honored to participate once again with the Daniel Pearl Foundation by dedicating all of our October shows to the memory of Daniel Pearl, the Jewish-American journalist who was kidnapped and murdered by Pakistani terrorists in 2002. This is a worldwide initiative with thousands of musicians participating to honor Danny’s life as a musician and humanitarian. Shortly after his death, Danny’s parents founded the Daniel Pearl Foundation whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and dialogue.

On a lighter note, there was magic at Mitchell (Horse) Farm in Salem, CT last Saturday as Neal, Fred, Marshal and I played our 4^th consecutive festival fundraiser to over 800 jubilant attendees. We started out with 200 attendees four years ago. It was another great year of merriment and music thanks to Jonathan Edwards and band, The Jon Pousette-Dart Band, founders Dee and Hank Doolittle and all of the wonderful volunteers.

We’ve got some cool and unusual shows coming up this month as well including a benefit concert with Ralph Nader, then another trip to Kent, Ohio to play with Brewer & Shipley before moving on to Chicago! Here is a complete list of our gigs for this month.

Sun, Oct 10 @ Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT a benefit with Ralph Nader
Fri, Oct 15 @ Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport, MA ATS/S&G Combo Show
Sat, Oct 16 @ Ashburnham Conservation Trust in Ashburnham, MA
Fri, Oct 22 @ Kent Stage, Kent, OH performing with our musical brothers Brewer & Shipley
Sat, Oct 23 @ WMFT, Chicago, IL on air studio concert
Thur, Oct 28 Private Halloween Party
Fri, Oct 29 @ Turning Point Café in Piermont, NY
Sat, Oct 30 @ Palace Theatre, Manchester, NH S&G Songbook Show

If you’ve been opening our recent mailers you know that I launched my John Lennon Song ProjectTour two weeks ago with a three city swing in Maine. All of the shows were tremendously successful as my band mates Tom Dean (guitars and mandola), Alana MacDonald (violin), Jordan Jancz (cello), Robby Coffin (guitars), and Teg Glendon (bass) hunkered down to honor the greatest artist of all time. Had he lived, John Lennon would have turned seventy on October 9^th.FYI, we’re performing at The Regent Theater in Arlington, MA on his birthday. Virtuoso musician Gary Schreiner (chromatic harmonica and accordion) will join us on stage there as well as Flying Monkey, Infinity Hall and Joe’s Pub. We promise to inspire.

Fri, Oct 1 @ Park Theater, Cranston, RI
Sat, Oct 2 Live broadcaston WFUV-fm 90.7 or WFUV.org between 4-5pm with Pete Fornatale
Sat, Oct 2 @ Turning Point Café, Piermont, NY
Sun, Oct 3 @ Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk, CT
Tue, Oct 5 @ Joe’s Pub, NYC
Fri, Oct 8 @ Flying Monkey, Plymouth, NH
Sat, Oct 9 @ Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA

Many thanks to Ron Olesko of WFDU who had me on his show this past Sunday to promote my JLSP CD and our area shows. Ron wrote this about Imagined: "Absolutely Brilliant ! I've been listening non-stop. What an amazing job of paying homage to Lennon and the Beatles and creating music that has so much of your own style and class. I can't wait to go on the radio and start spinning tunes from it. Album of the year !!"

The official release date for Imagined is October 9^th - John’s 70^th birthday - but is available now on our ATS website. For complete details, tour dates,song samples and Imagined fan quotes, please visit the JLSP website

August 2010 E-News

2010-08-02T12:06:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Month

We’re just a band… John Lennon

Blog

August - the dog days of summer and the beginning of the end of not making the playoffs for many of our favorite major league baseball teams - especially my Neu Rotic Mets. Words cannot express my disappointment in their lack of clutch hitting and the ineptness of their front office so I’ll leave it at that, wordless.

After performing our S&G Songbook Show at The Kate in Old Saybrook, CT, Neal and I are looking forward to coming back to play our original songs this Saturday. And besides some other wonderful shows and festivals in August and September, we’ll be performing in Kent, Ohio and Chicago this October 22^nd & 23^rd. Before I forget, our booking agent Bobbi wanted me to mention that If anyone is interested in having us play a private party or hosting a house concert on our way to and fro, we’re available. Also, because of the way the weekends line up for Christmas and New Years this year, we’re available to perform on or around those dates.

And now, a drum roll please........ After ten months of recording and tens of thousands of miles traveling back and forth to Eaton, NH (OK, a slight exaggeration on the millage but not by much) my friend Tommy Dean of Devonsquare and I have finally finished Imagined, our John Lennon Song Project CD. After years of wishful thinking, this is adream come true album for me that features 22 of Lennon’s better known Beatles songs, many of them artfully woven together. The two exceptions are Imagine and Johnny’s An Angel,which was originally on Aztec’s 1986 Living In America album. We’ve gotten nothing but rave previews from everyone who’s heard it so far including my friend John who wasserving in Kabul, Afghanistan at the time, and my band mates Neal and Freddy. And how about this from WFUVs’ Pete Fornatale: One listen to these intelligent, heartfelt covers will convince you that Rex and Tom have been infused with the spirit of John Lennon and that they rank right up there with the very best Lennon interpreters ever.

The official release date is October 9^th - John’s 70^th birthday - but is available to you all now on our ATS website. Tom and I are very excited about the CD and our upcoming 2010 live shows, which kick off on September 17^th at the Gracie Theater in Bangor, Maine. We’ll be performing live with Tom’s band mate Alana MacDonald who sings a heart-wrenching version of In My Life, plus four other terrific musicians. And like the CD, the live show’s instrumentation features bass, acoustic and electric guitars, cello, violin, mandolin, accordion, chromatic harmonica and some crazy cool vocals. For complete details, song samples and such, you can visit our JLSP website.

July 2010 E-News

2010-07-03T10:16:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Month

"The steady buzzzzzzz of the Katydid chorus,
the bass solo of the croaking Frog,
the steady woof-woof-woof a barking Dog -
a summer night's serenade."
- Michael P. Garofalo, Cuttings

Blog by Rex

I’m sickened by this ongoing BP disaster. We all are. The poor people, the pelicans, the wetlands, the water and sand. It feels worse than the Valdez spill because it is worse, a hundred times worse and counting.

I’ve gotten mail asking why I haven’t addressed this topic. My first thoughts were, this is way too depressing and what difference would it make anyway? In the light of day, today, all that comes to mind is we all need to band together on this and not shirk our individual responsibilities either: being more mindful of our planet, better informed, and more than ever before, working with our elected officials on these matters. Life on earth. We’re all in this together including the oil companies.

We obviously need oil and its byproducts now but we can all do better conserving it and asking our lawmakers to do a better job in regulating its manufacturing. To this end I believe there is some progress being made. Still, I’m disappointed in our president’s response to this ongoing disaster, especially after the lessons of Katrina, and for not using this as a call to arms for congress to assist the private sector in developing sustainable renewable energy sources. If not now then when? In spite of the anguish, the depression and dread, this is a golden opportunity to renew our resolve for a safer cleaner future while creating new and inspiring jobs for our staggering economy. However, I hate the prospect of more nuclear power plants. Please say no to this shortsighted and dangerous policy but yes to wind, tide and solar energy. It’s our only real chance for survival on dear mother earth.

I started thinking about a song lyric I wrote back in the early 80s. It’s startling to me how prophetic it was but we had similar ecological and economic concerns back then as well. It’ll only get worse if we don’t get involved now.

What Would The Indians Say

WELL WE DUMP ALL OUR JUNK IN THE OCEANS
FUNK UP OUR RIVERS AND LAKES
WHILE WE SPEAK ABOUT LOVE AND DEVOTION
I WONDER WHAT WOULD THE INDIANS SAY?

THERE’S GONNA BE FIRE ON THE WATER
AN AWESOME PRICE TO PAY
WE BETTER HOPE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS
HEAR WHAT THE INDIANS SAY

WE DO RESEARCH ON EARTH’S LITTLE CREATURES
BLIND THEM WITH COSMETIC SPRAYS
WHILE WE GAWK AT THE BLONDES IN THE BLEACHERS
I WONDER WHAT WOULD THE INDIANS SAY?

CHORUS

WELL THE TV KEEP PUSHING ITS PICTURE
TIME IT KEEP TICKING AWAY….
WHILE THE RICH KEEP THE RICH KEEPING RICHER
SO TELL ME WHAT WOULD THE INDIANS SAY?

June 2010 E-News

2010-06-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Month

"Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June."
~ Al Bernstein (American Author)

Blog by Rex

Well my Amazins’ are holding their own in spite of erratic run production caused by a severe psychological hitting disorder prominently displayed by core players in the middle of the batting order - oh yeah, and the one batting eighth as well. This disorder is especially evident with runners in scoring position (that’s RISP for those of you keeping score at home). Still, there’s a glimmer of hope for our 2010 season; hope being mandatory if you’re a diehard Mets fan, which most Mets fans by nature are. Perhaps the reason we relate almost religiously to our psychologically damaged baseball team, season after season, is that we obviously have a proclivity for that malady ourselves.

Moving right along, ATS is playing some choice new venues this month including a CancerCare celebration in Bangor, ME., the fabulous Knickerbocker Cafe in Westerly, RI., then back to Maine, this time Skowhegan, to play a fundraiser for their Opera House. I mean, nothing says OPERA quite like Aztec Two-Step! Throw in a rare house concert sponsored by our lovely and longtime friend Deb McWethy of the Peterborough Folk Music Society, a private WFUV house concert fundraiser with DJ extraordinaire Pete Fornatale, and a private party also in Maine, and we have a pretty lively, fun and fulfilling June itinerary. Please scroll below or visit our website’s tour dates for all the thrilling details. http://www.aztectwostep.com/tours.aspx.

Oh yes and, Let’s Go Mets!!

May 2010 E-News

2010-05-09T21:32:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Month

"What potent blood hath modest May."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Blog by Rex

Ya gotta believe that The Amazin’s are back in spite of dire punditry predictions for their 2010 season. Understandable (unless you’re a diehard Mets fan!) in the wake of consecutive colossal September collapses’ in 2007 & 8 - and of course last year’s dismal showing brought on (in part) by devastating injuries to several key pitchers and position players. So, when my New York Mets finished off their April home stand with a 9-game winning streak to inch a half game ahead of their turnpike rivals, the Philadelphia “Cheese Steaks,” as the delirious droll WFAN radio host Steve Summers refers to them, you can only imagine the ecstasy in Metsville. I actually have the utmost respect for the Phillies in spite of their pathetic showing in last year’s “Fall Classic” against the best team money always buys, the New York Yankees. Yeah, yeah, we all know about the “Core Four” but please, how pathetic is it to be able buy or discard players at a moment’s whim or whenever the need arises? I’d be embarrassed to be a Yankee fan the way The Evil Empire buys their championships year after year, but of course they never are, always wanting more more more. Now, if only my Mets would go out and pickup a serious free agent thumper this year and another starting south paw or two and…

Speaking of gaming, we hope you’ll come out for our free concert at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den this Wednesday, May 5^th starting at 8pm. We’re playing one long set backed by bassist Freddy Holman and percussionist Marshal Rosenberg. Meet us for a pizza party at Pepe’s afterward!

We’re also back at gorgeous Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT on Saturday, May 15^th featuring our original songs after doing our S&G show there previously.

April 2010 E-News

2010-04-05T20:25:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Month

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~ Robin Williams

Blog

Spring has sprung and thanks to you good people Neal and I have been on a very nice roll lately. Our performances have been great successes both artistically and at the box office in spite of the ongoing recession. We keep expanding our horizons as evidenced with a trip out to Pittsburgh, PA and Kent, Ohio this month and into Illinois this coming October. New playing opportunities keep popping up and we continue to get party inquiries which helps us stay afloat in these turbulent times. Miraculously, we turned 39 last month and if the fates allow we’ll have a brand new ATS studio album sometime in 2011 to celebrate our momentous 40^th anniversary. Meanwhile, my John Lennon Imagined recording with dear friend Tom Dean of Devonsquare is in its final stages. We are shopping it now with hopes of it being available for JL’s 70^th birthday on October 9, 2010. Please visit http://www.tomdeansongs.com/JLSP.html for a sneak preview and to sign up on our facebook page for updates.

Here’s a few more springtime quotes beginning with the greatest of them all:

Hope springs eternal. ~ Alexander Pope (from An Essay on Man, 1732)

The first day of spring is one thing but the first spring day is another. ~ Henry Van Dyke

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~ Margaret Atwood

First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before the eye can focus –
Crocus. ~ Lilja Rogers

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~ W. Earl Hall

Spring is not the best of seasons.
Cold and flu are two good reasons;
Wind and rain and other sorrow,
Warm today and cold tomorrow. ~ Author Unknown

April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~ Hal Borland

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~ Mark Twain

April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go. ~ Christopher Morley

The first day of spring was once the time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just set the clocks an hour ahead and change the oil in the crankcase. ~ E.B. White

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~ William Shakespeare

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby

Let’s Go Mets!

March 2010 E-News

2010-03-02T21:09:00.003-05:00

Quote of the Month

"Man is as vast as he acts." Yogi tea label

Blog

Our friend Gary Licker from Holbrook, NY designed and launched our first website way back in the ‘90s, then directed a documentary about us called "No Hit Wonder" which was aired on several PBS stations in 2000. Apparently it has been in the top 5 of the most popular short documentaries category on Hulu for the past 8 weeks. I had never heard of Hulu until just now but evidently it's all the rage. If you'd like to see the video in its entirety, or read some flattering comments about it, please click on hulu.com. It's also available on our website Aztec Two-Step store.

The premise of the documentary is that we've had this rather improbable career in spite of never having had a top 10 anything (or top 100 for that matter) in the music business. It's both ironic and cool that Gary's film finally got Aztec Two-Step "charted" after 39 years of playing music together in this our anniversary month. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Gary publicly for his kindness and support all these years.

We are truly blessed.

February 2010 E-News

2010-02-01T10:23:00.002-05:00

Quote of the Month

"Every smile is a direct achievement." Yogi tea label

Blog

For those of you who were fans of our first album you might recall its dedication to Billy Carey and Richie Callahan. Billy called last week with the sad news that Richie passed away after courageously battling cancer. I have so many fond memories of Richie, beginning with his mischievous twinkling black Irish eyes. Richie worked on the American Stock Exchange back then but you'd never know it by his laid back, easy going demeanor. He and Billy had a "bachelor pad" on the upper east side of Manhattan, and after stumbling upon Aztec Two-Step playing in the open air of Central Park one afternoon, they'd regularly stop by "our tree" near the band shell to hear us perform - the same spot where we were discovered and brought to Elektra Records a few months later. We all struck up a fast friendship so when I suddenly needed a place to "crash" after being in New York City for only a few weeks, he and Billy graciously offered me their living room couch - a much needed sanctuary in the summer of ‘71. Later that summer I moved into a little Greenwich Village apartment on Gay Street with my muse and bride to be Joy, who I also met under that very same tree. That was our doorway I was standing in on the cover of our first album.

Richie liked our upbeat songs the best, especially "Almost Apocalypse," and always requested it whenever he saw us play. He and Billy flew out west and visited us during our first recording sessions in Los Angeles, then rented cars and drove us to gigs with Harry Chapin in New Jersey and The Band in upstate New York. After my son Rufus was born, Richie went on vacation with us to Bermuda which ended abruptly when his wife Barbara broke her hand after crashing her moped into a stone wall that had inexplicably jumped out in front of her on our way back from a night of revelry. Richie and Billy bought me a navy blue woolen pea coat that first freezing winter in New York City and I'll always remember playing "Killing Me" and "Strangers" for them, while they sat cross-legged on the floor of that tiny Village apartment Joy & I shared. Whenever I needed a friend, a career or marriage counselor, money for rent, or just a good laugh, Richie (and Billy!) was always there for me. So long Richie Callahan, farewell old friend.

January 2010 E-News

2010-01-01T14:02:00.002-05:00

Quote of the Month

"Joy is the essence of success." Yogi tea label

Blog

Holy Cow and WOW! It's 2010!

Besides our two never ending wars and the same ole corporate and banking greed; the complete incompetence of most of our elected officials; the riled up religiously fevered juvenile jhadists hell bent on blowing themselves and our commercial airplanes up; and of course the kids (and adults too!) who compulsively talk and text on their cell phones while driving - the thing that irks me the most these days are all those grocery store parking lot people who abandon their shopping carts in harm's way instead of depositing them in the designated drop areas. And for the most part these cart drops are only a few feet or yards away! In golf this is the equivalent of not replacing your divots or repairing your ball marks. Not only is this egregiously bad etiquette, it also demonstrates a serious lack of respect for those following right behind. Hmmmm, is it possible that Tiger Woods' recent transgressions and this current epidemic of really awful shopping cart etiquette are directly correlated?

Oh yes, try to spread joy and peace wherever life takes you this year. Have a happy, safe, healthy, glorious and prosperous New Year!

December 2009 E-News

2009-12-10T21:47:00.000-05:00

Quote of the Month

"The beauty of life is to experience yourself." Yogi tea label

Blog

‘Tis the season' is upon us once more, so with an eye on last week's "Black Friday" season opener, we're going all out this year by spreading our own holiday blackness with Aztec Two-Step's "Black December" merchandise sale extravaganza. Granted, black anything sounds a bit ominous or bleak - no, make that a lot ominous and bleak, especially when used in a slogan to promote a festive holiday event like this - but black is also slimming which could come in handy this time of year. So, in spite of the possible negative connotations, we're going with Black December as our official sales slogan to entice our fan base (that would be you) to shop with us for some of your holiday gifting. To further entice, we'll even tie your orders up with pretty red ribbon (black would be overdoing it) and personalize each one before sending them off to you or whomever you chose. And as an added bonus, we could care less if you or they have been naughty or nice this year. Especially the naughty part.

To take the frenzy and anxiety out of your shopping experience, please try to leave at least 7 to 10 days for processing, shipping and handling. Scroll down to "Merchandise Specials" to see how we can blacken your holiday gift giving season, with 33 different items in our catalog available now, including 6 of Rex's Christmas sports CDs.

Black Taco, Black Lassie, Black Slacks, Black Power, Paint It Black. It's all good!

November 2009 E-News

2009-12-01T16:16:00.002-05:00

Quote of the Month
“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” William Blake

Blog
November is best known for Thanksgiving, which is best known for turkey, the focus of this month's blog. The turkey is often maligned and I have no idea why. And feathers fly if called one! The turkey is one of the most famous birds in North America and Ben Franklin (my favorite American) wanted to make the wild turkey, not the Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States. This just in from a letter Mr. Franklin wrote to his daughter, Sarah Bache on January 26, 1784;

For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country...

I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

See why I love Ben so? OK, back to the courageous and noble wild turkey. They spend their days gobbling (ha ha) acorns, seeds, small insects and wild berries and you can often see them in clusters foraging along the roadsides of major thoroughfares - always an exhilarating sight! They spend their nights in low branches of trees (yes, wild turkeys can fly) and like the bumble bee, this is a truly amazing aerodynamic feat!

Finally, turkey is especially delicious served hot with heaping sides of mashed potato, turnip, and stuffing, all smothered with delicious giblet gravy and jellied cranberry sauce.

Turkey Terms

Caruncle - brightly colored growths on the throat region. Turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship. Can also be created on the necks of unsuspecting Homo sapiens in back seats of cars.

Poult - a baby turkey. Also an excellent Scrabble word.
Snood - the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak. Also turns bright red when the turkey is upset or during courtship. Most human snoods only turn red when they drink too much.

Tom - a male turkey. Also known as a gobbler. OK, now I get why some men folk might on rare occasion can be called a turkey.

Wattle - the flap of skin under the turkey's chin. It can also be found on the anatomy of older adult Homo sapiens and was first brought to my attention as the fetish obsession of Richard Fisher, the co-starring lawyer character on the Ally McBeal show (1997-2002) played brilliantly by Gregg Germann.

Turkey Trot - an animated strutting-like display of sexual attraction by male turkeys for their female counterparts. This animated strutting-like display can be observed in the male population of the human species, especially noticeable while attempting to dance or after imbibing too much Wild Turkey!

October 2009 E-News

2009-10-01T11:32:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-15T16:48:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-15T16:42:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-15T16:36:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-03T22:44:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-02T18:12:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-02T18:10:00.001-04:00

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.

March 2009 E - News

2009-03-01T23:06:00.002-05:00

In This Newsletter:

1. Quote of the Month
2. Blog Stuff - Starting With A (Very Bad) Poem
3. If Times Are Tough (Free CD)
4. Calling All Angels
5. Links Link

1. Quote of the Month

“Let things come to you.” Yogi Tea label

2. Blog

Time marches on like a Lion

Lambs lie down or scatter,

Chitter chatter, chitter chatter - Bah Bah Black Sheep what’s the matter?

I saw a crocus peeping out today….

Times may be tough but spring is on the way.

March 15th is Aztec Two-Step’s 38th anniversary. We are celebrating with a Birthday Bash at The Turning Point in Piermont, NY. No presents please, just throw money!

Once again we have four new and amazing fan base business listings on our website’s Links link. March listings include a veterinarian, a cabinet maker, an electronic online company, and friend/photographer, Roy Gumpel.

Don’t forget to use our Set List Request and FanTalk links. See what a fan posted there after reading my February home loan request. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from so many of you but unfortunately I lost out on the house. Click here to read all about it.

3. If Times Are Tough

For you folks who’ve lost jobs or suffered other calamities and are in crises mode regarding your next car payment, or your rents, mortgages, heating or utility bills, or even about filling your tank with gas, 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.

4. Calling All Angels

This has been updated since last month. Please take a moment to read how you can help me purchase a home. Click Here

5. Links Link

If you are self-employed and want us to list your business on our website, please send Rex a short blurb and the contact information you want listed on our Links link. Please take a moment to peruse and hopefully use some of the services being offered there as a show of solidarity for our little online community. You’ll see some extraordinary and unusual listings there.

That’s all folks. Thanks and pass us on!
Cheers, Rex & Neal

February 2009 E-News

2009-02-09T16:35:00.004-05:00

In This Newsletter:

1. Quote of the Month
2. Blog - Dear President Obama
3. If Times Are Tough
4. Home Loan Letter From Rex
5. Links Link

1. Quote of the Month

"By honoring your words, you are honored." Yogi Tea label

2. Blog

We thank George W. Bush for his service and welcome Barack H. Obama as our 44th president. With a globe-stopping election victory mandated by the majesty of the America people, we are propelled into a new era during one of the most difficult times in our nation's history.

Dear President Obama, with your consummate intelligence and work ethic, with your exquisite sense of community, and with the help of your family, your staff, your cabinet and our congress - please continue to unite and inspire our countrymen, our children, and the world - by ending, not escalating our two wars; by stimulating the economy through healthcare and education reform, through infrastructure, alternative energy, and global warming initiatives; by restoring our national pride and world-wide respectability by allowing judiciary accountability for the conspirators of torture and unlawful wiretapping; by pledging to support the arts and sciences, for the absolute separation of church and state; and for the audacity of hope, of service, of change, of joy, and for the prospect of equality for all. That's all. Thanks.

As mentioned before, we are making plans to attend the Far West Folk Alliance in Irvine, California from November 6-8, 2009. We hope to perform on either side of this conference. If there are acoustic venues of note or an interest in hiring us for a private party during this time period, please contact Bobbi at bobbi@bobbidickerman.com. Bobbi is also working on securing dates for us in Michigan, Colorado and Florida.

Last but not least, there are four new fan business listings on our Links link including information on Quincy Jones' petition to ask President Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts, a free national Animal Rescue Site that needs 30 seconds of your time, and a new Dan Fogelberg retrospective on FM Odyssey Records. Three dollars from each CD sold will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Dan's name.

3. If Times Are Tough

For you folks who've lost jobs or suffered other calamities and are in crises mode regarding your next car payment, or your rents, mortgages, heating or utility bills, or even filling your tank with gas, 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. Home Loan Appeal From Rex

Please take a moment to read my letter asking for help in purchasing a home. http://www.rexmarchfowler.com/

5. Links Link

If you are self-employed and want us to list your business on our website, please send Rex a short blurb and the contact information you want listed. We already have several links posted so please take a moment to look through them as a show of solidarity for our little community we are trying to establish here. Remember "networking" in the 1980's? This is our 2009 version. http://www.aztectwostep.com/links.htm

January 2009 E-News

2009-01-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

In This Newsletter:

1. Our wish for you in 2009 (author unknown)
2. Quote of the Month
3. Blogasaurus Rex
4. If Times Are Tough
5. Links Link
6. Time It Was & Stargazers Update

1. Our wish for you in 2009

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips. May your clothes smell of success and may happiness slap you across the face.May your tears be tears of Joy. May the problems you had forget your home address. In the simplest of words . . . may 2009 be the best year of your life!
Life comes at you fast and hard sometimes so take ten seconds before moving on and open this up for a really good … well laughter will assault your lips, promise!

2. Quote of the Month

“Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light.” Yogi Tea label

3. Blogasaurus Rex

Blessings. Peace and prosperity in the coming New Year. Wishes anew, wishes come true. See yourself in others. Pray for peace and for Obama. Make art often. Sing from your heart. Affirm. Observe. Rejoice. We are making plans to attend the Far West Folk Alliance in Irvine, California from November 6-8, 2009 and hope to perform on either side of it. If there are venues of note or interest in having us perform for you during this time period please contact our agent Bobbi (bobbi@bobbidickerman.com.) We’ve received so many email requests from our California contingency these past few years that we’re going to make a sincere effort to start performing this fertile golden plain once again. Bobbi is also working on dates for us in Michigan and Colorado this year.

On a personal note, dear Ann Ludwig-Skelton is bringing me to Tucson this month - The Cathedral of Sajuaro Cactus - along with our brilliant friend and photographer Nina Fuller; delicious Southwest dishes and inspirational photographs to ensue. Oh yes, golf will be plentiful and perhaps a solo house concert at Jim Lipson’s. My fourth grade sweetheart Anna Parker and her husband Arthur will be there too. I am also applying for an eight week residency at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH beginning June 1st. I first heard of this amazing sanctuary when we started playing the lovely Folkway Cafe in the late 1970’s. I never dreamed of applying but Adrienne Jones of Mad Agnes inspired me after attending for five weeks last summer. If I’m fortunate enough to be accepted it will be a fascinating place to refocus and finish my-o- auto-bio; maybe write a song or three. http://www.macdowellcolony.org/history.html. Carl Lennertz of Harper Collins is writing my reference letter. I am not allowed to see it. We will still perform during this period if Bobbi’s diligence prevails.
Wishing you wellness and joy - wish me luck.

4. If Times Are Tough

For you folks who’ve lost jobs or have suffered other calamities and are concerned about paying your rents or mortgages, your car payments or utility bills, with nary a thought about purchasing an Aztec Two-Step CD in the coming months, write to me at rex@aztectwostep.com and we will send you a free CD of your choice to help lift your spirits in these difficult times. And for those of you who can hardly afford a tank of gas let alone come see us play, we'll do our best to get you in to see one of our shows in 2009. Keep the faith.

5. Links Link
If you are self-employed and want us to list your business on our website, please send Rex a short descriptive blurb plus your website and/or contact information you want listed. We already have several people’s links posted. We hope you’ll take time to look through them all and send yours in as well. Remember “networking” in the eighties? This is our 2009 version. http://www.aztectwostep.com/links.htm

6. Time It Was & Stargazers Update

We are up to 94 orders for my kid’s of all ages CD, Stargazers and 152 for Time It Was, our live Simon & Garfunkel Songbook CD featuring the amazing Pete Fornatale. Now, if all 2500 of you on our mailing list ordered both CDs we’d be able to pay ourselves back and have enough left over to record and properly promote our next ATS recording. Is this just wishful thinking?

December E-News

2009-01-01T09:54:00.002-05:00

In This Newsletter:

1. Quote of the Day
2. Blogasaurus Rex
3. Time It Was & Stargazers Update
4. Bobbi's Website Debut

1. Quote of the Day

“We do for each other, we do for the world.” The Sister Project www.thesisterproject.com

2. Blogasaurus Rex

Alas, the wolf’s at the door but still we will be merry. For all we have, not what we've lost, still we will be merry. For you dear folks concerned about paying your rents or mortgages, your car payments or utility bills, let alone purchase an Aztec Two-Step CD in the coming months, write to me at rex@aztectwostep.com and we will send you a free CD of your choice to help you through these difficult times. And for those of you who can’t afford to see us play for awhile, we'll do our best to get you in to see one of our shows. Keep the faith and keep on being merry.

3. Time It Was & Stargazers Update

Our sincere thanks all of you who have supported these two new projects. For those keeping score, there are 2700 of you beautiful people on our mailing list. We went from 65 to 72 orders for Stargazers and from 90 to 129 for Time It Was since our December 1st mailing. If everyone on our mailing list ordered one of these CDs we’d be able to pay them off, invest in a promotional campaign and have a little something left over to make another record! Is this wishful thinking? We think not seeing everyone signed up voluntarily.

4. Artworks by Bobbi Dickerman

Bobbi balances being Aztec Two-Step's booking agent, publicist and road manager with hand-painting small wooden furniture, bowls, boxes, and other functional décor - all with her unique sense of whimsy and love of color. Her website debuted on December 1st 2008 with an array of vibrant multi-colored candlesticks, perfect for quality holiday gift ideas. Please honor her life-long passion by visiting her website. www.bobbidickerman.com

OK, that just about wraps things up! Please forward this to a friend you think might be interested in being on our mailing list. Thank you for your ongoing support. We do for each other, we do for the world. Great Motto!

Peace, Prosperity & Happy Hollandaise,

Rex & Neal

FAN TALK

2008-12-31T11:35:00.002-05:00

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