Arizona Backroads - A2Z

Birdman Media
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Arizona Back Roads takes you off the beaten path and into the heart of the Grand Canyon State. Each episode spotlights cool places to eat, hang out, and experience Arizona in real life — from hidden gems and local favorites to live music and entertainment that bring communities together. Whether you're a local looking for your next adventure or a visitor wanting the inside track, this show is your guide to getting off the couch and out into the real world. Experience Arizona from A to Z — one back road at a time.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    From Coffee Shops to Change: The Purpose-Driven Sound of Tia Penny

    On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman sits down at the intimate Z-Bar inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort with one of Arizona's most promising young voices — Tia Penny.   At just 18 years old, Tia has already built an impressive musical foundation. From receiving her first ukulele at age seven to performing in coffee shops across Arizona, her journey reflects both talent and purpose. With influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to Bob Dylan, her soulful sound carries a depth far beyond her years.   But Tia's story goes beyond music.   She shares the inspiration behind her powerful original song "Goodbye," written after intervening in a friend's mental health crisis. The song led to a meaningful partnership with Teen Lifeline, a teen suicide prevention organization. Through this collaboration, Tia has performed at their gala events and helped raise awareness by incorporating the hotline number into her music video—using her platform to make a real difference.   In this episode, you'll hear about:   🎸 Starting her musical journey with a ukulele and piano 🎶 Influences from classic rock and folk legends 🧠 Plans to study psychobiology at UCLA with a potential music minor ✍️ Writing songs focused on social impact and mental health awareness 💙 The story behind "Goodbye" and her partnership with Teen Lifeline 🌴 Moving to Los Angeles to pursue both academics and music   Tia Penny represents the next generation of artists—musicians who blend artistry with advocacy, using their voices not only to entertain but to inspire change.   http://www.tiapenny.com https://www.instagram.com/tiapennysings/ youtube.tiapenny.com https://www.facebook.com/tiapennysings   Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    14 min

  2. MAR 23

    Black Moods & Backrooms: How The Black Moods Cut Their Teeth in Tempe

    Origin: Tempe, Arizona Genre: Rock / Blues Rock Core Members:   Josh Kennedy — Guitar, Vocals Chico Diaz — Drums Brandon Kuntz — Bass   On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman sits down with Arizona rock powerhouse The Black Moods to talk about how it really starts.   Before the tours. Before the big stages. Before opening for national acts.   It was four-hour bar gigs. Moving pool tables out of the way. Playing to eight people at the Yucca Tap Room.   Josh, Chico, and Brandon break down:   🎸 How the band name "The Black Moods" came from a shared obsession with The Doors and rock biographies 🥁 The first chaotic gigs that were "train wreck after train wreck" 🚐 Getting thrown into booked shows with no safety net 🎤 Why playing to tiny crowds was essential to building real stage chops 🛣️ Road etiquette — what separates seasoned touring bands from rookies 🔥 The moment they went all-in on music   They talk about inheritance money funding the leap, grinding through early gigs, surviving COVID by gigging harder than ever, and why you can't learn stage presence sitting in your bedroom studio.   This is the part of the music story people don't glamorize — but it's the part that builds you.   Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    24 min

  3. MAR 16

    Acoustic by Week, Full Band by Friday: The Rise of Lacy Rashea

    On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman walks into Roosters Country and discovers a band on the brink of something bigger.   Meet Lacy Rashea and her band.   By weekday, Lacy and Shane strip it down to acoustic — what she calls "paid practice" — tightening harmonies, testing songs, and building chemistry. By weekend, it's a full five-piece country-rock show that brings the rowdy.   Lacy shares:   🎤 Growing up with a country-singer dad who opened for Tim McGraw 🎸 Picking up guitar at 12 but choosing songwriting over theory 🔥 Winning Best Female Artist & Best Upcoming Artist at the ACDMA Awards 🛣️ Touring regionally and nationally 🌵 Why Arizona built her — but Nashville is calling   They talk about:   The energy exchange between performer and crowd Why acoustic shows are more vulnerable than full-band sets How open mics create real chemistry Overthinking as a musician The grind of bar gigs vs. the rush of festival stages     And the big announcement:   Lacy Rashea is making the move to Nashville.   Not because Arizona isn't enough — but because growth requires discomfort.   Also coming up: opening for Diamond Rio, Jo Dee Messina, and performing at the Chandler Ostrich Festival.   This is the grind before the breakout.   Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    18 min

  4. MAR 9

    No AI, No Tracks — Just Blues: JC & The Juke Rockers on Arizona Backroads

    On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman is back at the Grand Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, sitting down with Arizona blues powerhouse JC & The Juke Rockers.   Frontman John Chavez (JC) shares how a $12 Stella guitar at age 12 launched a lifelong journey from classic rock roots to full-time blues musician. Alongside bassist and longtime collaborator Rob DeVries and Chicago-raised drummer Matt Indies, the trio breaks down what keeps live music alive in Arizona.   You'll hear about:   🎸 From high school choir to 20+ years of band chemistry 🥁 Basement drum practice that brought the Chicago police knocking 🎤 Why the audience is the "fourth member" of the band 🎶 The DJ phase — and why live bands are roaring back 🔥 Blues as the foundation, with rock, R&B, and old-school country in the mix 💿 Their 13-track original album All About the Blues   Plus, Birdman captures one of those pure Arizona moments — little kids dancing on the balcony during sunset, maybe experiencing their first live band ever.   No tracks. No AI. No substitutes.   Just musicians, instruments, and energy.   Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    8 min

  5. MAR 2

    Dripping in Divinity: Carley Cavender's Leap Into Full-Time Music

    Birdman pulls up in Downtown Mesa at Diamond Don's, right next to The Saltmine Studio Oasis, to sit down with rising Arizona vocalist and recording artist Carley Cavender.   Carley's story is the real behind-the-scenes grind: singing at weddings at nine years old, getting bullied after a school talent show, then reclaiming the mic at 18 through open mics and never looking back. She breaks down why open mics matter for artists, why small rooms can be scarier than big stages, and how sobriety changed her relationship with performance — nerves, confidence, and all.   Now she's stepping into her next chapter: leaving her day job and going full-time music, pushing her original work, and building beyond Arizona. Carley talks influence and identity (blues and soul at the core, modern edge in the delivery), the business reality of early gigs, and the mindset shift from "cover sets for hours" to "artist sets that move people."   You'll hear:   Why open mics are the best training ground for stage confidence The truth about early gig pay and how artists level up Performing sober vs. "liquid courage" Staying grounded while chasing big visibility What's next: originals, out-of-state shows, and a bigger stage     Arizona Backroads — get out and explore.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carleycavendermusic/ Facebook (Soulful Sounds by Carley Cavender): https://www.facebook.com/Soulfulsoundsbycarleycavender/ Spotify (Artist): https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM4y2vCZF8NH1yboGqa5X YouTube (Dripping In Divinity playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7LPtN7gROUWfor8MYAZbAcXSgxTuAcH8 YouTube (Carley Cavender Music channel): https://www.youtube.com/@CarleyCavenderMusic/videos

    30 min

  6. FEB 27

    Gold, Ghosts & 750,000 Dollar Bills: Arizona's Oldest Stagecoach Town

    On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman rides 13 miles and 138 curves deep into the Superstition Mountains to visit one of Arizona's most legendary outposts — Tortilla Flat.   Population: 6. Oldest surviving stagecoach town in Arizona. And home to an estimated 750,000 dollar bills covering the walls.   Birdman sits down with Ryan — assistant general manager, maintenance lead, and unofficial town historian — to unpack the wild history behind this former dam-worker camp turned iconic desert stop.   You'll hear about:   🏜️ How Tortilla Flat got its name (and why it's not "Flats") 🐻 The 1928 zoo and the bear that bit a tourist 🔥 The fire that reshaped the town 💵 Why miners nailed their last dollar to the wall ⛏️ The legend of the Lost Dutchman and Jacob Waltz 🌊 Flooded roads, tarantula crossings & stuck delivery trucks 📬 The still-operating village post office 🏍️ Why motorcyclists and cyclists make this a must-ride destination   They dive into the gold lore of the Superstitions, the Spanish cross artifact found in a cave, and the myth that the old hotel was built with gold-infused bricks.   This isn't a tourist trap. It's a living piece of Arizona history.   And you can't experience it online.   You have to ride the curves. Watch for the javelina. And step inside.   Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    14 min

  7. FEB 25

    The Situation at Sunset: Live & Loud at the Grand Vista Lounge

    On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman is back at the Grand Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, sitting down with Ron Alosi and members of his powerhouse band, The Situation.   Seven-piece band. No backing tracks. No safety nets. Just live musicianship under the Arizona sky.   Ron — entertainment director at the resort — along with Dave Morgan on bass and Harry Young on guitar, break down how the band came together, how a strapless emergency bass gig turned into a long-term partnership, and why live music in Scottsdale is stronger than ever.   You'll hear about:   🎸 The evolution of the Phoenix live music scene 🌅 Playing outdoor sunset sets against the McDowell Mountains 🔥 Winter patio gigs with fireplaces and heaters 🎶 Why tracks are replacing musicians — and why this band refuses to use them 🏖️ Daytime live music at Arizona's only beach-style resort pool 🎤 The difference between concert stages and resort lounge experiences   Ron also shares how the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale bar was recognized as one of the top Hyatt bars in the Americas — and why live entertainment is at the center of that success.   This isn't a concert ticket episode. This is about where locals go. Where visitors stumble into magic. Where music is still played — not pressed.   Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    9 min

  8. FEB 24

    From Center Stage to Grand Vista: The Reinvention of a Scottsdale Icon

    On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman goes behind the scenes at the newly renovated Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort with Regional Director of Engineering Jennifer Mueller — the woman who helped oversee a massive $120 million transformation of one of Scottsdale's most legendary properties.   From the iconic days of Center Stage Bar to today's reimagined Grand Vista Lounge, this isn't just a renovation story — it's the evolution of live music culture in Arizona.   You'll hear about:   🎸 The legacy of guitarist Esteban, who launched his career right here 🏔️ Why the McDowell Mountain views are part of the entertainment 🍸 The hidden speakeasy-style Z-Bar 🍝 Celebrity chef Richard Blais' Italian concept at La Zozzona 🎶 How live music drives connection in a resort setting 🏖️ The only beach-style resort pool in Arizona with live entertainment 🏢 The shift toward convention culture — and why big bars matter   Jennifer shares how the property evolved from the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch into the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale, why live music still anchors the experience, and how resort entertainment now blends locals with visitors in a uniquely Arizona way.   This episode is about more than a hotel.   It's about:   Reinvention Arizona music history Community gathering spaces The energy that only live performance creates     If you think you know this property — you probably don't know it like this.   🎙️ Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

    9 min

  9. FEB 24

    JTM3 at the Grand Vista Lounge

    Birdman is coming to you from the legendary Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, a venue long known in Arizona's live music scene — from the days of Center Stage to performances by guitar icon Esteban.   In this episode of Arizona Back Roads, Birdman sits down with acoustic harmony powerhouse JTM3 — Jay Allen, Tony, and Matt Henderson — a trio built on decades of friendship, musicianship, and desert-stage experience.   🎸 Acoustic guitars, lap steel, cajón percussion 🎤 Three-part harmonies 🌵 Seven years as JTM3 — 20+ years in Arizona's music trenches   The conversation dives into:   The legendary Scottsdale live music circuit Phoenix's cooperative (not competitive) musician culture Cave Creek's rising young crowd energy The post-COVID comeback of Arizona nightlife Playing indoor vs. outdoor desert stages Why original music still matters     Plus, JTM3 shares details about their upcoming show at the Mesa Arts Center and regular performances at Grayhawk Golf Club.   If you care about:   Live music in Arizona Local venues with history The evolution of Phoenix nightlife Supporting original artists     This episode is your backstage pass.   This isn't a review show. It's a road map to where the music actually lives.   🎙️ Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.   All of Jay Allan's Links - https://linktr.ee/jayallanmusic#289334223

    9 min

  10. FEB 24

    Arizona from A to Z: The Backroads Podcast

    Welcome to Arizona Back Roads, the podcast where local legend Birdman takes you beyond the tourist traps and into the real heart of Arizona.   Before podcasts were cool, Birdman was already behind the mic—starting in the early 2000s when shows were built for the iPod and downloaded off iTunes. From broadcast TV and magazines to radio and full-time podcasting, the journey has always been about storytelling. Now, it's about the road.   As a lifelong motorcyclist, Birdman has logged thousands of miles across Arizona's highways, desert cuts, mountain passes, and forgotten two-lane blacktops. Along the way, he's found the mom-and-pop diners, roadside grocery stores, hidden breweries, small-batch distilleries, live music joints, hike-in gems, and metro-area secrets most locals drive right past.   This isn't a rating show. No stars. No thumbs. No mile markers.   This is a boots-on-the-ground, kickstand-down exploration of Arizona culture.   Each episode delivers:   Hidden Arizona destinations Local live music & events Breweries & distilleries worth the ride Small businesses off the beaten path Outdoor experiences you can actually go do     Whether you're a rider, a weekend explorer, a live music junkie, or just someone who wants more than the Grand Canyon photo op, this show is your invitation to experience Arizona from A to Z.   This is not an online experience. It's interactive.   Listen. Then get out and explore.   📍 Based in Arizona 🏍 Built for riders, explorers, and culture seekers 🎶 Powered by live music and local stories   Reach out with your favorite hidden gem: Rob@Birdman.media   Arizona Back Roads — Get out and explore.

    3 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Arizona Back Roads takes you off the beaten path and into the heart of the Grand Canyon State. Each episode spotlights cool places to eat, hang out, and experience Arizona in real life — from hidden gems and local favorites to live music and entertainment that bring communities together. Whether you're a local looking for your next adventure or a visitor wanting the inside track, this show is your guide to getting off the couch and out into the real world. Experience Arizona from A to Z — one back road at a time.

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