Aztec Two-Step 2.0 featuring Rex Fowler, Dodie Pettit & Steve Roues at The Sounding Board at The Universalist Church of West Hartford

Aztec Two-Step 2.0featuring Rex Fowler, Dodie Pettit and Steven Muddy RouesOriginating from a chance meeting at a Boston folk club open mic night in 1971, Rex Fowler & Neal Shulman burst on the scene as Aztec Two-Step in '72 with their self-titled debut album on Elektra Records. This first album and their three subsequent albums for RCA Records made the duo staples of progressive FM and college radio, helping to usher the folk-rock music of the 1960s into the 1970s and beyond. Rex and Neal went on to spend a lifetime of making music together, earning innumerable accolades over the years while building a loyal fan base.Following Neal's 2018 retirement, original founding member, principal singer and songwriter Rex has continued on, expanding the band's musical legacy with his new ensemble Aztec Two-Step 2.0. With 2 and 3-part harmonies, multi-instrumental arrangements, and Dodie Pettit's dazzling guitar work, they've recaptured the feeling of Rex & Neal's original studio recordings, at the same time putting a fresh spin on the songs. Still performing favorite ATS classics and old forgotten gems, the stage patter is still as engaging, fun, and poignant as ever!The old songs done in this new lineup brought new life to the music. This truly is a band that people need to experience!! - Ron Olesko, WFDU-fm/ Folk Music Notebook/ Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club, NJAbout the band:Rex Fowler - Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Lead VocalsAfter taking the bands name from a poem by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and writing the first song for or about Jack Kerouacs iconic novel, On The Road, the story of Rex and Aztec Two-Step became intertwined with the history of folk/rock music in America. Originating from a chance meeting at an open mic night in a Boston folk club in 1971, the duo that included co-founder Neal Shulman, went on to record four albums throughout the decade on Elektra & RCA Records that left an indelible mark on the musical genre.As their recording career continued, so did the critical acclaim. In 1986, their first indie album Living in America was named in Billboards year-end critics poll. It also received the New York Music Award for the Best Folk Album. In 1999 they were the subjects of the documentary, No Hit Wonder, which was aired on several PBS stations across America. In June 2007, Real Simple, a popular national lifestyle magazine, named Aztec Two-Steps debut album one of the all-time top five classic folk albums, along with works by Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Tom Rush and Phil Ochs. The article cites the duo as surpass[ing] Simon and Garfunkel for exquisite harmonies, musicianship and emotion. In this era of Aztec Two-Step 2.0, Rex continues to expand the bands musical legacy with fan favorites, forgotten gems and new original folk/rock compositions as he introduces the members of his new ensemble:Dodie Pettit - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards, VocalsAccomplished songwriter and recording artist, Dodie Pettit first met Rex Fowler when she was a session player and singer on ATSs 1980 Times of Our Lives album. A member of the famed The Untouchable and The Enchanted Forest All-Girl Bands of the mid-1960s, Dodie was a former Principal Dancer for the American Repertory Dance Company which led to a distinguished 15-year career on Broadway as an original cast member of The Phantom of the Opera, as well as appearing in Tony Awarding winning musicals CATS and Titanic. Dodie and Rex were married in August 2018 and she is now the heart and soul of the new Aztec Two Step 2.0 ensemble.Steven Muddy Roues - Upright Bass, Blues Harmonica, VocalsMuddy is a cherished member of our band, joining us after Neal and our longtime bassist Fred Holman retired in 2018. As his photo depicts, Mud plays standup bass, and along with his bluesy baritone vocals and harmonica riffs, gives us a rich and distinctive sound. I discovered Mud when he and his brother Billy were recommended by a friend to be in my Rockabilly Kings quartet that celebrates Elvis Presleys early genius work.