Musica Distesa 2017

If there wasn’t enough reason to love La Distesa more than I already do, Musica Distesa was the perfect reminder of what I love to live for. Three glorious days of food, wine, friends, art, and of course: MUSIC. For those who need a little crash course reminder of what Musica Distesa is, it is …

2016 – A year of heart exercise

Well, it serves me right for complaining that my 2015 felt uneventful during last year’s post. This year has had just as many highs as there has been lows for me. It certainly has been the biggest roller coaster that I am still on and I can’t see the end in sight anytime soon. 2016 …

4 Peaks Music Festival

Being that I wouldn’t get to be with the boys for Summer Meltdown this year, I was beyond ecstatic I was able to join them for 4 Peaks Music Festival in Bend, Oregon. It’s basically the perfect size festival. One main stage, one small stage, a few food and merchant vendors…lots of hula hooping. It …

Andrew and Susy Benefit

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, but one of the things I love about the Seattle music scene is the great comradery. Everyone wants to see each other succeed. When a terrible fire tore through Andrew and Susy’s apartment after the holidays, everyone banded together to keep these two afloat while they …

The End is Over – My First Album Art!

Five years ago we said goodbye to The Senate. What was intended on a one time Senate reunion after 5 years, sold out The Tractor in a couple days, and the guys ended up turning it into a mini reunion, summer tour and all! What fans also didn’t know was the band was planning on releasing another …

When The Wizard Comes to Sasquatch!

Click. Click. Click. Type. Type. Type. It’s a typical work day until my phone starts buzzing and a big smile comes across my face. Because that’s what you do when Ryan Henry Ward calls you. Always smile. And feel warm and fuzzy. We don’t normally talk on the phone so even though I’m in the …

Austin Jenckes and Polecat @ The Crocodile

Once upon I time, I fell in love with a voice at a coffeeshop in college. Naturally, we became friends and shared many laughs, gelato, and long talks. But I graduated and left Bellingham and just as he was emerging into the Seattle music scene a few years later, I scampered off onto a world …

Preview: Heels to the Hardwood in Studio

Since I unexpectedly have the night off, I guess I should take the moment and actually blog something that hasn’t been sitting on the shelves for weeks. For the last weekish, I’ve been cooped up in the studio with Heels to the Hardwood at Rogue Island Entertainment. It’s definitely giving me a taste of the …

A Mini-Caravan with Polecat

Nothing will ever replace the spot in my heart from the good ol Handful days…but after befriending the lovely Bellingham-based band, Polecat, I can’t complain. Who doesn’t like hanging out with a bunch of awesome stomping musicians, ferry trippin’ and late night road adventures? I was lucky enough to hang out with the gang for …

First Annual Birthday Benefit Jam

As some of you know, I traditionally celebrate my birthday for a week. Sounds crazy I know, but really, it’s more of an excuse to plan fun events and see all my friends. This year, I decided to give a twist to one of my traditional events. Generally, I hold a bonfire at Golden Gardens …

Help Keep Musica Distesa Alive!

If there is one thing that has made an irreplaceable impression on me during my travels, it is Corrado and Valeria. Without them, I may have never been able to embark on this incredible journey I’ve been so blessed to make. These two are exemplary examples of living with an open heart. I love them to death, and …

Parzival

That’s no band name, that is the real first name of my friend Parzival Popof. I met Parzival because he had teamed up with my friend Jesse to make music. So when I caught them one evening during an art walk in the historical area of downtown Seattle, the first thing I was curious about …

Parzival in Studio

Parzival wanted some photos documenting his work in progress. It was a first for me and a fun afternoon! Thanks Parzival for sharing the afternoon with me!            

Kris Orlowski and Andrew Joslyn – “Pieces We Are”

This week has been a crazy flux of new music for me. Such an exciting time. The delayed obtaining of Mumford and Sons‘s new album “Babel” (WOOT!), Taylor Swift’s album “Red” (Sorry, the sappy romantic in me just loves her too much…admittedly there are very few songs on this album I enjoy), and most importantly, …

The Big 4-0

Corrado and Valeria turned 40 this year. Valeria turns 40 in October, but they decided to celebrate together this year. Nothing shows how well this couple is loved more than the people that were in attendance. Gifts ranged from hand crafted pieces to weekend getaways. They decided to celebrate their big bash with live music …

Allen Stone

Love me some Allen Stone. There was a bit of hype about him, but I wasn’t really familiar with him. Ben told me a funny story how his brother used to be Allen’s pastor back in the day and told me that Allen is genuinely one of the nicest guys so I put him on …

Handful of Luvin’

Probably should have been one of my first posts…but given I have so many photos of this amazing band, I saved it for another time. I’ve mentioned them so many times now in other entries, that I figured it’s about time I get something up about them. I discovered Handful on accident. I went to …

Mumford & Sons

Valeria and Corrado are the best. As an early birthday present, they got me a ticket to Mumford and Sons who were playing in Ancona. The concert was held in the Piazza del Plebiscito and was already sold out by the time they had heard about it, but Valeria had a friend who was part …

Ravenna Woods

I randomly discovered Ravenna Woods one night because my friend Ciaran would not stop raving about them. He really liked Chris Cunningham, their lead singer, who played smaller sets at Molly McGuire’s, where Ciaran used to work. They became friends and Ciaran was always quite proud of that, so off we went. It turns out …

Luc and the Lovingtons

I love these guys. Frequently gracing the Ballard Farmer’s Market, these are some of the nicest guys. Luc Reynolds, the lead singer spent some time helping with some relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, writing one of my favorite songs, “Freedom Song” with some children. It’s a beautiful song…Jason Mraz somehow found it and covered it, …

Pickwick

Funny story how I discovered this group. I was enjoying what I thought would be any regular old Open Mic night at Conor Bryne one sunday evening. Turns out there was some special tribute for a local sound engineer, Kory Kruckenberg, who recently won a Grammy. So as a tribute to him, many of the …

March Fourth Marching Band

If I were to ever run away and join the circus, I’d probably just run away with March Fourth Marching Band. It’s like the circus except way more fun. Nick introduced me to this band when we were visiting New Orleans in 2009. Lucky for us, it was Halloween weekend and nothing is more fun …

Impossible Bird

Former lead singer of The Senate, Nick Drummond, has been on a great journey since his days with The Senate. Traveling and working on his solo material, along the way he was reunited with Tyler Carson, a fiddle player who used to play on occasion with The Senate. It’s funny how life works out that way. I …

Hot Bodies in Motion

Seattle’s music scene is flooded with everyone trying to have their take on the acoustic folk genre. Hot Bodies in Motion is not that. It’s “baby making mammal funk”. I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know the guys since discovering them opening for a band I can’t even remember who I went to …