The Desert Vibe

We turn the mic toward Glen Gardner to trace his path from a teenage FM apprentice to a builder of Arizona’s music community. Along the way we unpack how humor, restraint, and care turn a room into a home for artists and listeners.

• early FM radio days and learning live craft
• the power and limits of a 50,000-watt signal
• fragmentation versus shared cultural moments
• hosting principles that welcome and disarm
• first guitars, jazz lessons, and letting songs breathe
• thirty-five years in a precision show band
• creating Active Rock and breaking heavy bands
• art versus commerce and radio-ready edits
• purpose, gratitude, and love as lasting energy
• launching supportive open mics across Phoenix
• upcoming gigs, festivals, and MIM’s luthier celebration

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

Walt Richardson joins The Desert Vibe Podcast for a special co-host “guest” interview rooted in the Arizona music scene. If you love hearing how musicians in Arizona build community, find their voice, and keep showing up, watch the full episode here.

Glenn Gardner and Jamirae (Jamie Ray) put Walt in the hot seat to talk about where his calm leadership style really comes from—growing up as the oldest of eight kids, moving around in a military family, and learning how to connect with people so they feel safe and heard.

Walt also shares how music became his escape (and eventually his life path), why he doesn’t believe in chasing “the big moment,” and what he thinks younger musicians need most: discipline, focus, and real standards. He tells the story of his first guitar, the teachers who changed his direction, and reads from the Desiderata—a piece that helped shape how he lives and creates.

Stick around for local Arizona event shout-outs, including Walt’s upcoming “Walt Richardson and Friends” show at TCA.

Guest Links
Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com/

Local Music in Arizona – Upcoming Shows & Events
 • Walt Richardson and Friends (EP/CD release party) — Nov 20, 2025 (Thu) — TCA
 • Arizona Honeybee Festival — Nov 8, 2025 (Sat)
 • Chill Room 2nd Anniversary Party — Nov 8, 2025 (Sat) — Chill Room — Tempe
 • Showcase — Nov 8, 2025 (Sat) — North Mountain Brewing Company
 • Walking Wednesday Open Mic — Weekly — TCA
 • The Blindsiders — Tonight 5–9 — The Olive Mill — Queen Creek
 • The Blindsiders — Tomorrow 6–10 — Schnepf Farms Fall Festival
 • The Blindsiders (Trio) — Saturday — Windmill Winery

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We trace Lisa Hightower’s path from newcomer to cornerstone in Arizona’s music scene, from finding open mics to building a mission-driven community. A harrowing car crash catalyses healing, gratitude, and the launch of Church of Sound to uplift and fund artists.

• surveying a new city’s scene and finding open mics
• assembling the right band through intent and chemistry
• defining “earthy soul” and improvisation as practice
• reimagining covers to feel fresh and personal
• the crash, recovery, and community support
• launching Fest in the Hills and Church of Sound
• plans for artist aid, development, and events
• how to connect with Lisa and hear the new single
• statewide music events, festivals, and open mics

Please go to festinthehills.com. I have a fundraiser coming up this weekend at the Living Room in Chandler. Yes, October 18th. And November 8th is the festival, festinthehills.com. You go there and you can find out how to give to this beautiful festival and all these wonderful artists.

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with George and Georgia to trace a chance harmony from a Denver bar into a full creative partnership shaped by the desert, open mics, and the Phoenix community. We unpack their arranging process, their influences, and the power of space, restraint, and true listening rooms.

• how a spontaneous duet became a duo
• moving to Phoenix for the desert and community
• balancing love, rehearsal, and changing arrangements
• instruments, training, and jazz-minded improvisation
• harmony as arrangement, leaving space in songs
• reworking covers with fresh chord voicings
• building confidence to share originals live
• the depth of Arizona’s music scene and venues
• favorite listening rooms and upcoming gigs
• statewide festival and open mic highlights

Visit: George and Georgia Music.com — all spelled out. Links to YouTube, Facebook, and a monthly newsletter with a fun musical fact. We’re at the State Fair at the Hangout Stage tonight and the next four days. North Mountain Brewery showcase Oct 18 with Mark Bishop Evans. North Mountain Visitor Center fundraiser Oct 19 weekend; bid on our 1.5-hour private gig in the silent auction.

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with Eric Ramsey to explore how a song picks its own path, why labels rarely fit, and how Arizona’s stages and open mics shaped a late-career leap into full-time music. We close with a tour of upcoming shows, festivals, and where to find Eric’s work.

• resisting genre boxes and letting songs lead
• writing across instruments and timbres
• evolving arrangements from studio to stage
• inspiration versus revision in songcraft
• when collaboration works and when it doesn’t
• roots from Kansas to Arizona desert life
• building a career via showcases and open mics
• upcoming gigs, state fair sets, and releases
• where to stream, buy CDs, and follow Eric
• Arizona venue and open mic roundup

“ericramsey.net has everything. You can listen there, or buy it if you’re of a mind. I’ve got a garage full of CDs”

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with organizer and multi-instrumentalist B Graves to explore how a volunteer-powered folk festival grew from a few stages into a free, family-friendly cornerstone at a working dairy farm. Along the way we share booking tips, hidden Valley venues, and why community keeps this scene alive.

• Levine Folk Festival origin, growth to five stages
• Venue details at LaSalvia Dairy beside South Mountain
• Date, hours, free entry, family and dog policy
• Rapid artist signups and current waitlist approach
• Sound rules and stage design to avoid bleed
• Volunteer roles across sound, MCs, vendors
• Notable performers and ASU pop program pipeline
• North Mountain Coffee House series overview
• Festival in the Mountains fundraiser details
• B’s musical background, retirement, and family
• Valley event roundup and venue spotlights
• The value of open mics and first stage reps

Email: [email protected] for maps, parking info, volunteering, and booking details

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

We sit down with Sal from The Chill Room to unpack how a no-alcohol, kava-forward venue is reshaping Arizona’s live music community. From Brooklyn roots and tribute-band craft to open mics that launch careers, we trace the systems, stories, and spirit behind a growing scene.

• origins of the chill room and its stage-first vision
• balancing life as a touring guitarist and venue owner
• role of open mics in spotting and growing talent
• tribute-band discipline and production quality
• why removing alcohol changes audience behavior
• kava culture explained and performance benefits
• family-run operations, staffing, and systems
• expansion thinking, scalability, and timing
• two-year anniversary plans and permits
• valley-wide event highlights and new open mics

Spread the word, beat the TomToms, tell your friends!

Guest Links:

The Chill Room Tempe (Website): https://www.thechillroomtempe.com/

The Chill Room Tempe (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/thechillroomtempeAZ/

Sal Cartagine (ReverbNation) : https://www.reverbnation.com/salcartagine/songs

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

A legendary room, a fresh start, and a reminder that local stages can change a life. We shine a light on Phoenix’s Rebel Lounge—once the Mason Jar—and its Summer Heat Series while welcoming Hall of Fame honoree Rhonda Joe to share how grit, community, and collaboration carried her from cover sets to a decade of originals ready to see daylight. From hauling gear for weekly showcases to championing women songwriters valley-wide, her story is a blueprint for how scenes grow when we build them together.

⸻
Guest Links

Rhonda Hitchcock-Mast (Rhonda Joe):

 • SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/rhonda-hitchcock-mast

The Rebel Lounge: https://therebellounge.com/

We get into the craft: why co-writing can sharpen your voice, how choosing a clear “who to who” perspective makes a song land, and what steady critique circles like the Arizona Songwriters Association do to keep writers honest. Rhonda talks candidly about the moment she almost sold her equipment, the stranger who told her to keep playing, and how that single nudge shaped everything that followed. There’s full-circle magic too—seeing a tight acoustic set with percussion and cello at Rebel, then months later locking in her own cajon player and stepping onto that same stage.

Along the way, we explore open mics at Tempe Center for the Arts, free festivals in Glendale and Laveen, and the unexpected global bridges born from streaming during the pandemic. You’ll hear practical paths for younger artists, reflections on navigating intimidation in cities like Nashville, and a clear case for releasing the songs you’ve been saving for “someday.” If you’re craving fuel to keep writing, booking, and showing up, this conversation brings both inspiration and next steps.

If the episode moves you, share it with a friend, subscribe for weekly artist stories from across Arizona, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear what you’re chasing next.

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

Ever wondered how a guitar store becomes the heartbeat of a city block? We sit down with Ed Heisler of Black Mountain Guitar Company to trace the unlikely path from a COVID-era electronics business to a thriving Cave Creek destination where players gather, bands form, and music spills into the streets. What begins as a need for hands-on, real-wood shopping turns into a scene powered by weekly jams, mentorship, and a showroom that treats tone like a craft rather than a checkout button.

Ed opens up about acquiring the space after a local icon passed, rebranding the store, and watching demand surge as people left their living rooms for the feel of instruments that can’t be judged through a screen. We talk inventory growth—PRS, Fender, Martin, Gibson, and boutique makers—and why two “identical” guitars never play the same. Then we map the real magic: Tuesday Night Music Club, a rolling lineup of songwriter circles, country and blues jams, and ukulele gatherings that sparked collaborations, gigs around town, and friendships that outlast the sale.

Black Mountain Guitar Website:

https://blackmountainguitar.com/

If you’ve chased tone, this conversation hits home. Ed insists tone starts with the player; gear colors what your hands already say. He shares lessons from 80s shred to jazz harmony to orchestra pits, and explains why mentors still matter even as YouTube accelerates learning. You’ll hear practical buying advice for first guitars, Arizona-specific tips for used acoustic checks, and fresh perspective on who’s filling the room: boomers and Gen X players rediscovering music with the resources to finally buy their dream instruments—plus young shredders hungry for a stage.

By the end, you’ll see how a local shop can be a social engine: a safe meetup spot, a classroom without walls, and a weekly invitation to belong. If you value live music, real community, and the kind of store where the owner knows your tone as well as your name, you’ll feel right at home here.

Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a creative spark, and leave a quick review so more musicians can find our community.

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands

The desert has a way of stripping a song down to what’s honest, and that’s exactly where we go with our guest, Cowboy Wrecks. We dive into the difference between Western and country, the power of listening rooms that champion original music, and how a melody can pull images into focus until the lyric finally tells the truth. Along the way, Wrecks performs two standouts—Heat of the Road and Raggedy Ann—offering a lived-in portrait of persistence, longing, and the landscapes that shape both.

Cowboy Wrecks:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cowboywrecks/

ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/cowboywrecks

MORE:
We share the story of a 12‑string with history: a shimmering instrument once played by Arizona music pillar Jane Murdoch. That guitar isn’t just gear; it’s memory, community, and the continuity that keeps local scenes alive. From there, we zoom out to the wider Arizona map: the Rosetta Room’s coffee-and-concert setup in downtown Mesa, Fiddler’s Dream hosting an indoor take on Play Music on the Porch Day, and open mics that prioritize original work. You’ll hear why venue chemistry matters, how the right room can turn a draft into a keeper, and what it takes to build a welcoming culture around listening rather than noise.

For songwriters, Wrecks offers a grounded process: tune first, pictures next, words last—then test your work in front of people to hear what truly lands. We talk about shifting narrative perspective (he, she, I, we) to reveal new emotional paths, and why some songs arrive overnight while others take decades to finish. And if you’re mapping out your own Arizona music tour, we highlight hotspots from Prescott’s bluegrass energy to Tucson, Flagstaff, and beyond, plus upcoming gigs and pop-up sets that keep the week buzzing.

If you love Western storytelling, folk roots, and the kind of rooms where songs breathe, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a new venue to try, and leave a review with your favorite lyric or moment—we read every one.

Support the show

Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast

🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast

🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show:

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products

Hosts

• Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com

• Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net

Marketing, PR & Website

• Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music

Regional Contributors

Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment.

Interested in being interviewed or representing your region?

https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com

#TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands