Rex-A-Vision:The Podcast

Rex-A-Vision EP:39 Reed Mathis of Electric Beethoven

Bassist Reed Mathis, formerly of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Tea Leaf Green, the 7 Walkers, The Rooster Conspiracy and his newest and awesomest project, Electric Beethoven (Whose latest tune, "The Fifth," can be listened to and purchased HERE)pops in for the first official Color Red Records Wednesday here on the Rex-A-Vision Podcast. Mathis is a serious, life long student of the form and I was delighted to get to learn from his extensive musical knowledge and I think this is one of the best chats yet! Big ups to the Color Red record label for helping with this and partnering up for a series of Wednesday chats with folks like Reed and so many more to come! Dig it!

Rex-A-Vision EP:38 Marc Millman, Concert photographer

Photographer Marc Millman is more than just a stellar capturer of the live music scene, he's a steward of the craft and a wonderful, charitable guy to boot. He's one of my favorite people to share a photo pit or crowded front row with at any show or festival because he is always smiling, always considerate and consistently captures awesome images. As he winds his way to New Orleans for Jazz Fest where his work will be featured in a galler of images being shown by Relix magazineI thought it might be fun to talk shop and get hyped for the fun to come! Dig it!

Rex-A-Vision:The Podcast EP:36 Aaron Johnston

Aaron Johnston is a wonderfully eclectic drummer and percussionist whose beats have shaped the spine of music from the Brazilian Girls to his current love, the infinitely improvisation Aaron Johnston's J.E.D.I. I got the chance to have a chat with this New York based legend about his wild career, his work with the Color Red label and so much more. Really excited to share this conversation, even though one of my mics died in mid chat. We muddled through and the result was one of my favorite episodes yet! Enjoy!

Rex-A-Vision EP:35 Jessica Kinnick-Wesley of Stable Studios

Today we chat with Jessica Kinnick-Wesley from Stable Studios, a recording and concert/festival/multi-purpose venue located just outside of Spencer, Indiana. I've seen every one from Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and George Porter Jr from The Meters there to garage bands from the surrounding counties. The one consistent thing was the quality of the music and the friendliness of the folks who run the place! They have been helping produce music events, often focused on giving new bands their first experiences recording and performing on real stages, as well as giving the community a place to gather for a host of other fun and zany events, like the Beerlympics! Jessica and her family were kind to me in my early years and showed me a lot of heart when unforeseen circumstances conspired to make one of their events a rain soaked nightmare. This isn't just a cautionary tale of the pitfalls of festival promotion though...it's a celebration of what can happen when you operate a business with love as the central mandate! Enjoy!

Rex-A-Vision EP:34 Brian Tyndall of The Mantras

Brian Tyndall usually holds down the deep end as the bassist of The Mantras though on today's episode he holds court with me about the pressures of throwing the band's signature festival, Mantrabash, the realities of touring and just how hard you can step on a photographers head before you cause brain damage! Check out our chat and don't forget to pick up tickets for the Matrabash HERE! 

Rex-A-Vision EP:33 Derek Oldham of Driftwood Gypsy

Derek Oldham is a wonderful musician, a talented songwriter, a full fledged entrepreneur and farmer and a special soul to boot! He and his band Driftwood Gypsy have been setting the south on fire and now, with their second album percolating and festival appearances around the country on the summer horizon they are poised to bring their brand and band to the next level. It's an ascension that is well merited. Driftwood Gypsy play in the style of the great rock and roll review bands like The Band and their music will make you smile. There are two of their tunes embedded in the podcast and a lot of silliness in between! Enjoy!

Rex-A-Vision EP:32 Christian Schaumann of the Aiken Bluegrass Festival

Christian Schaumann is one of the founding forces of the much loved Aiken Bluegrass Festival (May 10th and 11th, with Del McCoury, Keller Williams, Larry Keel and Billy Strings! Tickets available HERE) and a genuinely dedicated fan of music and festivals. His efforts over the years have borne tremendous fruit as this years fifteenth anniversary edition of the event surely attests. We chatted about the fest, music and DOGS! YAY DOGS! Dig it!

Rex-A-Vision EP:31 Alvin Lee of The Lee Boys

Alvin Lee is one of the founders of the amazing band The Lee Boys, a gospel rooted sacred steel band out of southern Florida. His songs and his family are steeped in the merging of rock and roll and heartfelt church music and the result is a style of music that is instantly recognizable, uplifting and pretty dang infectious to boot. A friend of the Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park he stops by to talk about the reaction his church had when he took this music public, the effect sacred steel artists like the Lee Boys and Robert Randolph have on listeners and the fun of being a "Florida Man." Dig it!

Rex-A-Vision EP:30 Steveland Swatkins & The Positive Agenda

Steve Swatkins (AKA Swatty) and his band The Positive Agenda are a force for love and happiness out of the pacific northwest and a friend of the podcast. Hell, he created my theme song. (The good part of the theme, not the bells and whistles part...I did that mess myself) He's back to face my random questions and to share his new single, available today! So check out our chat and give a listen to "Theme From The Positive Agenda!" Dig it!

Rex-A-Vision EP:29 Charlie Miller

Charlie Miller is a beloved legend among the concert taping community. His work recording, mastering and sharing the music of the Grateful Dead and many other acts stretches back for decades and has given thousands and thousands of people the chance to relive the magic after the last note faded. Super psyched to chat with him about the magic he has captured and shared, his up coming Grateful Dead Dance Parties and more! Dig it!