Aztec Two Step 2.0 returns to the Vienna Union Hall with Maine native and soon to be named to the Central Main Institutes Hall of Fame, Rex Fowler. Rex is joined by his wife Dodie Pettit, Steven “Muddy” Roues, Peter Hohmeister, and Joe Meo.

After “lifting” the band’s name from a poem by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and writing the first song for or about Jack Kerouac’s iconic novel, “On The Road,” the story of Rex and Aztec Two-Step is intertwined with the history of folk/rock music in America. The duo that included co-founders Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman, went on to record four albums throughout the decade on Elektra & RCA Recor, ds that left an indelible mark on the musical genre. As their recording career continued, in 1986, their first indie album “Living in America” was named in Billboard’s year-end critic’s 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-Step’s 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 band’s musical legacy with fan favorites, forgotten gems and new original folk/rock compositions as he introduces the members of his new ensemble.

Before Neal retired after his wife Karen’s passing in November 2017, ATS continued touring while writing and recording songs for “Naked,” their tenth studio album. They were also given The Long Island Music Hall of Fame Distinguished Musician Award “For your many years of stellar performances and contributions to the Long Island music community.”

“Naked” bookended what turned out to be fairly impressive first and last albums. Like their self-titled first, Aztec Two-Step, it featured eleven memorable songs, highlighted by Rex’s title-track composition (We’re all born ‘naked’ with wings to soar) and Neal’s poignant ode to his beloved New York City, “Long Black Lincoln” (And the bars still close at four in the morning, the way the good Lord meant it to be). It was quite a ride for two musicians from diverse ethnic and geographical backgrounds, who were nearly six years apart in age when they met by chance during an ‘open mic night’ in Boston that they parleyed into a pretty decent forty-seven-year career.

Rex continues the journey with Aztec Two Step 2.0.