Tucson Releases Music

Support Local!

Tucson has an extraordinary number of exceptionally talented working musicians. Well, they were working up until mid-March. All of us lost work for most of 2020 and it appears it will be that way well into 2021. There are many outdoor venues in Tucson, due to the mild climate from October through April, that are still hanging on by a thread. Some are still working these venues as safely as possible, others are holed up doing live streaming, or just not playing at all.

Bands/musicians that are not on a record label are the least likely to get airplay to promote their efforts, especially on commercial stations. NPR stations focus mostly on syndicated news, syndicated talk shows, syndicated jazz, and syndicated classical music. Community radio such as Tucson’s KXCI do a somewhat decent job of getting local music on the air, but it’s up to the individual DJ if you get played. Mostly they seem focused on spinning touring ‘label’ acts. Online Rarity Rock Radio is another one that features local music quite often, as well as national acts.

Listed below are CDs released in 2020 from Tucson bands/musicians that do it because they can’t help themselves. They love what they do, and for the most part do not get the recognition they deserve. It’s tough out there so please check out their music…everyone will be better off for it.

M2M • Travelers, Transients, and Tourists (Catherine Zavala’s brainchild) Catherine Zavala and I logged thousands of miles in the 1990s making music in all types of venues. Neither of us will set foot into a Ford Econoline again, however.

Nancy McCallion • Go To Ground Nancy McCallion was the leader of the band mentioned above with Catherine, The Mollys, and I learned from her to avoid clichés in my own songwriting at all costs.

Don Armstrong • Mother, Don’t Give Up On Me Now Don has been all over the place noted for his work with his deceased wife/musician/songwriter Victoria Armstrong. He is a good friend and I was privileged to play both accordion and piano on a few of these tracks.

Jim Howell • Crooked Arrow Jim is a multi-instrumentalist, my neighbor, and friend….and puts out some right tasty music.

Jamie Laboz • After the Apocalypse Jamie is also a friend, an L.A. transplant, and makes all sort of interesting music. His wife, Cristina, is his collaborator and bassist/vocalist. She sang harmonies on a couple of my new releases from this year.

Sweet Ghosts • An Endless Blue (Ryan Alfred & Katherine Byrnes) Ryan and Katherine are all over the music scene in Tucson. Katherine sang harmony on the opening track of my new release.

Michael P. & The Gullywashers • Drivin' & Drivin' I’ve known Michael P. for many years and we’ve worked together many times. An amazing multi-instrumentalist, this CD has his funky stamp all over it along with David Roads on bass and Justin Donaldson on drums.

Jameson Clay Koweek • Mono Solo Tempo Clay is a good friend and we’ve played many a gig together as sidemen with Kevin Pakulis. A very unique stylist, this man.

Kevin Pakulis • Play It Again This was mostly recorded in 2019 but released in 2020. Another good friend, Kevin wanted to re-record some of his classic songs with the outfit that worked every Sunday (me on drums) for five years together at Borderlands Brewery in Tucson. A tight unit and just great songs.

Mark Anthony Febbo • Dry River Redemption Before the pandemic hit, I just started to get to know Mark a bit better. I didn’t play on the CD but was the drummer for his CD release party earlier in the year with a stellar line-up of musicians. Great songs.

Joshua Butcher • Back To the Start Again Joshua is the singer in The Muffulettas and his brainchild is his band Little Cloud. Since he couldn’t get the band together to record during Covid, he released this wee gem where he makes use of his skill on the baritone ukulele. Mastered by Jamie Laboz.

Matt Rendon • Extended Play (The Resonars) This is a 4 song release available both in vinyl and as a digital download. Released in May, it’s billed as garage/power pop gems with the trademark “Who Meets Hollies” sound in glorious MONO.

And last, but not least, my own release from October, 2020.

The Carnivaleros • Waiting For the Big One (also on Bandcamp) Fred Mills of Blurt Online wrote of my group in 2018, "Together, they stir up a giant melting pot of sonic chorizo gumbo that will leave you demanding encores. Or second helpings, take your pick." Waiting For the Big One contains elements of blues, zydeco, cajun, country, rock, and yes, polka. Here’s a video I made in my studio of track 1: Life I’ve Led.

Check out all of this music, and let’s all hope for a much better 2021. Once again, thanks for reading!