Meet up with MURS

MURS and I first met on some random street in Austin, Texas during South by Southwest 2010. He had previously done a headphone promotion with Skull Candy and I just so happened to be walking down the street with a previous Skull Candy employee. This is one of the most impressive things about Austin--musicians and people who work in the music industry fly in from all over the country (and globe) for this event. There are so many venues, so many performances, that the streets seem to flood with busying bodies. It must have been 11 pm or so when Brad and I ran into MURS and his recent wife, Kate. We each had shows we wanted to go see-I have no idea who now-but instead we stood on the side of the street just talking about everything that came to mind: our respective jobs, travel, school, food, music & art. It was an ardent moment in a frantic week. Kate and I got to know each other as well as two people can for an hour-plus sidewalk conversation.

I had heard of MURS prior to meeting him, but hadn't really understood how impressive a man he is until that night in Austin. As we were chatting, people from all directions would gleefully shout out "MURS!" and run over to take pictures, have things signed, and hand off demo CDs. MURS stated that they actually do listen to all the albums that are handed to them. Both he and Kate--a perfect match if you ask me--are the absolute sweetest, down-to-earth individuals. I truly felt at home hanging out with them.

While at Austin, I got to see MURS perform. That same night, on that same stage, DJ Qwik and Bone Thugs & Harmony played. I watched from off stage with the rest of the crew (I do enjoy the VIP pass this job sometimes brings) and got to see how excitedly the crowd reacted. Everyone was jumping up and down, singing every lyric. MURS puts on a fantastic show- if you ever have the chance to see him, regardless of if you are a fan of hip hop or not, it's a perfect performance. MURS displays class and tact & a stinging sense of wit and intelligence.

Months later, MURS came to SF to play Fillmore West. We got back in contact and started planning for our Vado TV interview. It proved to be hilariously entertaining, certainly for me, and hopefully for you.

Fun with The Ruby Suns

In true 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon form, The Ruby Suns and I are connected by only 2 degrees. My great pal Claire is high school friends with the tour manager of The Ruby Suns. It took just a few emails to get connected with front man Ryan McPhun & strike up a conversation. Ryan is Californian born and bred until he decided to follow his travelling soul across the globe to Auckland, New Zealand where he formed Ryan McPhun & The Ruby Suns. The band has gone through a few iterations up until it's current state. I met up with the band at one of my favorite San Francisco venues, Bottom of the Hill. We all piled onto a small couch in the green room and chatted for about 20 minutes. Most of it was complete and utter nonsense, which certainly made for an interesting editing process. In the end, the video turned out wonderfully. This is yet another highly recommended show. All the guys are up-beat, whimsical in output, yet serious in craft.

Up there, soaking up light

My performances are too far and few between, but when they happen they delight me to no end. I performed at a benefit for FACT/SF, a San Francisco based dance company. I played two of my most recent songs, Come Around and What I Need, as well as a cover (with Paul Gilliham) of Ray Lamontagne's You Are The Best Thing Everyone seemed to love it, already I am itching to have another go. Let's hope I don't wait so long in between performing next time.

Fly Gypsy. Mormon Cowboy.

I reserve the right to change my mind, but this could be--hands down--the best interview I did at SXSW. Fly Gypsy performed at LRG's party on St. Patricks day down at Aces on 6th Street in Austin. The part that you don't see, is this is actually the second time we filmed this interview because I pulled a rookie move and forgot to turn the microphone on. Fly Gypsy were such dolls about it. They kept their energy up, laughed with me and chatted, once again, about their time on stage.

Fly Gypsy has a #1 freestyle out of 132 on DJBooth.net and their single 2 Step reached No. 1 spot on college hip-hop charts.

Hardly Strictly Fooling

Celebrated my birthday by going to see a free bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park. Bliss.



This photo is made infinitely better by the crying child in the bottom left hand corner.

Dancing to Gogol Bordello.


I should have asked her name.

He grimaced at me when he saw me aim. I love him for that.


We celebrated the end of the day with beers and laughter in a local "tropical" themed dive bar.

Outside Lands Music Festival, SF

We could all get a little bit to gain, we could all give it up the same.
He turned around to search for friends, and gave me one of my favorite pictures I've taken.
We had regal archways and dreams fit for kings.
Of these cut-throat busted sunsets, these cold and damp white mornings I've grown so weary.
If through my cracked and dusty dime store lips I spoke these words out loud would no one hear me?