Rex-A-Vision:The Podcast

Adam Rugo stops by today to talk about his work as a music therapist and the joy it gives him and others. Music can heal as easily as it can elevate and this was one of my favorite chats yet for the series.

Our hosts Freekbass and Rex-A-Vision dissect Marvel's stunning San Diego Comicon announcements of 11 different Movie and TV projects set in the blockbuster Cinematic Universe the company has created. Loki, Thor, The Eternals, Dr.Strange, Falcon & The Winter Soldier, the Scarlet Witch & Vision, Shang Chi, What if? and more all get a lil insight and the anticipation starts to build! Marvel can apparently do no wrong and this slate of projects is stunning in it's breadth and ambition! Dig it!

Violinist Bridget Law of Elephant Revival and The Tierro Band  wrings almost infinite emotion and energy out of her instrument while holding an almost impossibly sublime expression. Law's mastery of the dichotomy of lush fills and fiery bursts has a near hypnotic effect on anyone within earshot. The music she and her Elephant Revival bandmates created has become a touchstone in the lives of so many of their fans including me. Super delighted to have her on to touch on the past, present and the world yet to come! Dig it! 

Multi-talented songbird Jennifer Hartswick has a voice so powerful and full of passion that when she sings it is impossible to not be moved to your very core. Though her work on vocals and trumpet from Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio's eponymous band and his newest side project, Ghosts Of The Forest, are where a lot of folks first encounter her she has put out an amazing body of work with her own band, her partner in crime Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power)and superjams and one off shows galore. She's constantly sought out to provide a slice of soul to more shows and studio gigs than you could possibly imagine she graciously took a lil time out to come join in my lil dog and pony circus, so YAY! Dig it!

Today's guest is the amazingly talented sound engineer Andy Lytle! He's the man who makes the music loud enough for everyone to hear but clean enough for the magic to come through loud and clear! He serves as the sound wizard for the mighty Billy Strings (Who we have had on ze show!) and picks up festival gigs at the Spirit Of The Suwannee whenever he can. Beyond all that he helps put on the Orange Blossom Jamboree Festival in Florida and sports some seriously cool hair! A regular Renaissance man! Dig it!

This week our hosts Freekbass and Rex-A-Vision take a look at the seemingly infinite rumors swirling around the superhero movie scene leading up to the San Diego Comicon. They touch on The Eternals, Joker and Batman features, geek out on the possibility of Keanu Reeves and Tom Cruise signing up and what fun could be coming in Hall H and the big presentations! All this and Batman casting news and more! Dig it!

Barnett English, founder of the twice a year Joshua Tree Music Festival in Joshua Tree, California, has worked tirelessly to bring his singular vision of a festival to life. The goal, as Barnett sees it, is to aim for as wide a range of genres and artists as possible with quality as the main deciding factor. While you will see festival stalwarts such as the North Mississippi All-Stars and Dumpstaphunk you will also be exposed to band from around the world. Afrobeat flows into aboriginal folks into Americana into straight old fashioned rock and roll and around again. I got to talk to him about the history of what he is building, the method to his madness and his thoughts on the future. Dig it!

SPOILER ALERTz! Spider-man: Far From Home came out Tuesday and our hosts Freekbass and Rex-A-Vision go for a deep, DEEP dive into every aspect of the closing chapter in the first ten year story cycle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From Tom Holland's pitch perfect performance as Spidey to Jake Gyllenhaal's maniacal Mysterio, Samuel L. Jackson's latest turn as Nick Fury and more. They discus their love of the film, where it places in the ranks of the Spider-man film pantheon and where it looks like Marvel is heading in the future thanks to the post credit scenes! Dig it!

Today's guest, Pete Mason, is the kind of music fan the world needs more of, honestly. His dedication and service to the music scene can be seen in so many different ways from his work with the NYS Music website to his signature creation, PhanArt.  Through PhanArt Mason works to celebrate the immense, thriving community of artists who celebrate the music of Phish with their craft and their many varied creations. Pete will be hosting art shows just outside of Fenway Parkduring Phish's upcoming shows on July 5th and 6th with exclusive prints and work by many luminaries in the field and the upcoming cruise which will feature art and live music! Tickets for the cruise can be found HERE.  We chatted about our passions, music journalism, the importance of originality and more! Dig it!