Live Happily Ever Now: 2013

Monday, July 1, 2013

Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Soundsystem - San Francisco

Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Soundsystem

I have been a fan of The Beautiful Girls for as long as I can remember (not sure how I discovered them many years ago but I am glad that I did...), and after catching Mat McHugh solo and acoustic a couple of times in Austin, I was pumped to catch him with a full band at the Independent in San Francisco. The new "grown up" Mat McHugh (aka Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Soundsystem) has not forgotten what I loved about The Beautiful Girls, and that is that bass (lots of bass at the show), guitar, rhythm, and some horns can make you dance your ass off one minute, and make you feel the raw emotion and internal reflection of love, life, pain, and happiness the next.

While I truly enjoy all of TBG/Mat's music, I have a special connection to La Mar (the ocean), as it helped me get through the unexpected passing of my mom 7 years ago. I couldn't help but feel the pain in my heart watching Mat perform it live and plugged in (with horns!), and I have shared this song with so many loved ones who have lost someone over the years (and it has helped them sturdy up their heart as well).

As a fan of "good" music (my friends always say I have a great taste in music ---- plus I DJ'd my own wedding that featured a lot of TBG), I especially appreciated Mat's reference to "grassroots" music, and couldn't agree more that good music should be shared with friends and family to help keep music alive that isn't necessarily a top 40 hit. Sharing good music with friends and family is what I strive for with my music (along with keeping me sane), and nothing makes me happier than sharing the stoke that comes along with finding a good artist or sharing a good artist with a friend that you would almost certainly never hear on the radio. Cheers to the "Grown Up" Mat McHugh, and I will continue to share his good vibrations that help keep me moving at my own pace as I grow with the sounds of music.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park

Stoked to spend some quality time recently with my Pops while supporting a good cause on a beautiful day in Northern California. One of my favorite places on the planet, aka Año Nuevo State Park, hosted "Seal Adventures Day", that benefited the Coastside State Parks Association, where we were able to spend several hours watching the elephant seals mate, fight, and makes lots of cool sounds. I was really stoked on all the friendly volunteer docents, and the park ranger who told me about his surf sessions at the reef by the mating grounds that is one of the sharkiest places on earth for great whites. Good times! Taken January 26th, 2013.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Where did you go?

Insert token blog post explaining why you haven't posted so long, and insert how you are going to push yourself to "write and post more" here. Not really, at this point I am taking the time to reflect and look back on this fun transition period of my life. What a whirlwind couple of Months the end of 2012/beginning of 2013 had in store. From working to volunteering, surfing to house hunting, San Francisco Giants torture to Jack White on a not so silent night, San Diego New Year's eating and sleeping to soon not be sleeping with a baby boy due in March, I have a feeling the ride is just getting started. Cheers to not knowing where this world will take you, and for now I'll just try to keep my head from spinning and find solace in not having to worry about RSVP'ing to SXSW this year. :( Live Happily Ever Now!