Ever wondered how musicians manage to stay connected with their audience while juggling multiple roles? This time, we’re diving into the world of Jeff Lieby, one of the admins of the Phenyx Pro US Community and a versatile musician with a wealth of experience.

From playing bass in multiple bands, DJing, to hosting karaoke events, Jeff's career spans a wide range of musical roles. In this interview, Jeff takes us behind the scenes of his dynamic career, sharing how his musical journey has shaped his performances, with the support of Phenyx Pro’s reliable products.

Get ready for an insightful conversation about the power of music, connection, and the tools that make it all come together.

Q1:  You’ve worked in a variety of roles, from playing in bands to DJ’ing and hosting karaoke. What do you enjoy most about having such a diverse musical career? 

I love music, I always have. I started taking trumpet lessons when I was 10, and I have been all-in ever since. At this point it feels like in one capacity or another music has always been a part of my life. I think the thing I enjoy most of all is the connections that you get to make with people all along the way. Whether it’s the guests at a wedding I’m playing or DJ’ing, patrons at a venue I’m running karaoke for, or musicians that I get the opportunity to play and create with I always enjoy the connections that I get to make with people from all walks of life, and the relationships that have developed along the journey.

Q2: Could you share a recent project you worked on? I’d love to hear about what made it particularly rewarding for you?

I recently started a new cover band called The Underdogs. We’re not reinventing the wheel but focusing on a proven formula: familiar, high-energy songs that people love to sing along to, a polished live show, and a visually engaging light display. With just four members, our goal is to keep the setup efficient while maximizing what we can earn.

To pull off a full sound with just four people, I’ve created backing tracks for every song we play. These tracks let us include percussion and horn parts that would otherwise be impossible with a small group. I know some musicians have mixed feelings about using tracks, but from my experience, as long as the audience is entertained, they don’t mind. People just want a great show and a good time.

I use Ableton Live to create and play back the tracks, which also allows me to plan out synchronized light shows for each song. We rely on electronic drums and guitar/bass modelers to ensure we deliver a consistent performance, no matter the venue size.

Q3:   You mentioned that you have been the bassist in BridgePoint Fellowship church for 15 years. Can you share a bit about how you got started and what keeps you in this role? 

I started playing in church when I was a kid, long before we landed at BridgePoint Fellowship. When I got older and into young adulthood, recently married to my wife of 16 years now also, we weren’t going to a church at the time. My older sister had been nagging me to come to her church that was in my hometown, about a 30-minute drive from where my wife and I lived. I wasn’t really looking for a church, and even more so I wasn’t interested in making that drive. Living on the gulf coast in the US, we are unfortunately subject to hurricanes from time to time and Hurricane Ike displaced the church due to significant flooding from storm surge. During the few weeks following the storm, they were meeting at another church a few towns over, and I could no longer justify telling my sister “No” since the drive was much shorter for us. We visited them there for the two weeks they were displaced there and followed them back home. We’ve been there ever since. We had probably been there for about a year, and I never mentioned to anyone that I played bass. They had a guy that played there, and I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. It was my sister that finally told the worship leader “You know, Jeff plays bass!” I’ve been a part of the team there ever since. I really love getting to be a part of the team, and I’m always mindful of what a privilege it is to get to do what I do there.

Q4:  During your host in different events, do you find any shared challenges? Do you have any personal routines or practices to ensure everything runs smoothly? 

I’m chuckling as I read that question because there are definitely shared challenges at events. One of the most common is forgetting something important. That’s why I’m a checklist guy through and through—I make detailed lists for packing and spreadsheets to keep track of everything I need as a band leader and music director. I’m so paranoid about forgetting something that I’ll triple-check my lists, sometimes more.

I also always bring backups for nearly everything. My rule is: one is none, and two is one, because gear can fail, and having a backup is a lifesaver. Lastly, I’m very particular about presentation—using Gaff tape to keep cables neat and tidy. I believe venues notice these details, even subconsciously, and it often influences who they choose to call back.

When it comes to wireless systems, preparation is key. I make sure frequency bands are planned in advance. For example, my microphones (PTAU-2) are in the 500 MHz range, my in-ear monitors are in the 900 MHz range, and my wireless bass system is in the 5.8 GHz range. Avoiding internal interference is crucial for smooth performance.

Another tip is to set up transmitters and receivers as close as practically possible to give your gear the best chance to perform well. With careful planning and attention to detail, many challenges can be avoided.

Q5: How did you first discover Phenyx Pro, and what made you choose their products for your performances?

I would guess that my discovering Phenyx Pro is probably a similar story to many folks, it was largely driven by necessity. My first purchase was the PTU-71-2H Dual Wireless Microphone System. At the time, I was building a rack case for my DJ gear—controller, mixer, laptop—and needed a reliable 2-channel wireless mic system. Like many others, I didn’t have a lot of extra money, which made finding a dependable option within my budget a real challenge.

I couldn’t just buy the cheapest product or the first one that fit my budget—I needed something I could rely on for work. After reading numerous reviews of other brands, I realized they weren’t the right fit. That’s when I discovered Phenyx Pro, and I’m so thankful I did. The PTU-71 system seemed perfect for my needs, and it hasn’t let me down even after heavy use in various environments.

That positive experience has led me to purchase several other Phenyx Pro products, including the PTM-33 in-ear monitor system, the PTAU-2 wireless mic system, and different configurations of the PDP system. Every product has exceeded my expectations, and I haven’t had a single bad experience with any of them.

Q6: You‘ve mentioned that Phenyx Pro is known for being in-tune with customers needs. This has indeed always been our brand philosophy. Have you ever benefited from this? Are there any examples you can share with us?

Absolutely! It’s incredibly rare to see a company in the Pro Audio space doing what Phenyx Pro does. The way you interact with customers in the Facebook group—genuinely seeking feedback and asking about future product needs—is truly impressive. I’ve never seen another company engage with users to this extent.

It’s also refreshing to see Phenyx Pro consistently release feature-rich products at prices working musicians like me can afford. For example, the spectrum analyzer on the PTAU-2 microphone system is a fantastic tool. While the unit already scans for the best channel, the analyzer makes it easier to optimize other devices in the same venue. Another great example is the PTU-X, which is packed with unique features like phantom power and 16 selectable channels. I may not need it for every gig, but it’s a “gig saver” tool I’m glad to have when I do—it’s like a life jacket on a ship.

I’m grateful for how Phenyx Pro values its customers. It’s a pleasure to recommend your products because I know I’m helping others find reliable gear that saves them money while delivering great performance.

Q7: I know you recently started using the PTAU-2 system. How has it been working for you compared to the PTU-71? Are there specific differences that stand out in terms of performance or features?

I absolutely love the new PTAU-2 microphones! I think comparing them to the PTU-71, the microphones themselves feel like they are of a similar quality. Neither microphone feels like it is cheaply made in the hand, but I would definitely give a slight edge to the PTAU-2 in terms of them just feeling like a little better quality handheld. It’s purely subjective but I also prefer the all black aesthetic of the PTAU-2.

I never push either unit to its limits in terms of range, but I do believe that the PTAU-2 would outperform the PTU-71 in that space if I needed a greater range out of them. To my ears, the PTAU-2 microphones definitely have an improved sound quality and less handling noise. That’s not to say that the PTU-71 is poor quality, but to my ears the PTAU-2 microphones are definitely a step above in terms of sound quality.

The receiver on the PTAU-2 is far more feature rich as well. The really handy built-in spectrum analyzer, the squelch feature, the channel lock feature, the ability to adjust the antenna gain based on the venue/setup and there is probably more features that I’m forgetting. The PTAU-2 system is an absolute home run!

Q8: You mentioned that music has been both a passion and a profession. What’s it like to have your hobby become your work? And just out of curiosity, do you have other interests outside of music?

They say that if you do what you love doing that you’ll never work a day in your life.

Unfortunately I do still work full time outside of music/entertainment, but it is great to be able to do something that I enjoy and be able to use that to earn supplemental income.

I’ve been married to my beautiful wife for 16 years, and we have 4 children that keep me pretty busy. I love spending time with them, which doesn’t really facilitate much time for additional hobbies outside of my music related activities.

Final Thoughts

In speaking with Jeff, we've witnessed Jeff's deep passion for music. For him, music is not just his job or hobby, but his whole life. We’re proud that Phenyx Pro products play a role in supporting this passion, ensuring that his performances are backed by reliable tools. We're also grateful for Jeff's recognition of our community and customer service, which strengthen our connection with him and other musicians.

Music is all about making connections—whether it's the connection between performer and audience, performer and their craft, or between a brand and the performer. At Phenyx Pro, we’re honored to be part of these connections and to help bring music to life, one performance at a time.

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