Music Monday: Ben Rector

Music is a HUGE part of my life. I have been blessed to see a ton of great musicians live. Last night was no exception. I went to see one of my absolute favorites, Ben Rector at the Carolina Theater in Durham, NC. Tyrone Wells also opened for Ben.

I first heard of Ben when my friend suggested I cover one of his songs at a show I was playing. That song, "When a Heart Breaks" has made it into my Top 10 all time favorites. But, surprisingly, that will not be the song featured on today's post. No sir.

This week's Music Monday post highlight's Ben Rector's song "Sailboat". It's a song that really speaks to me right now in this moment in time.


"I feel just like a sailboat. I don't know where I'm headed, but you can't make the wind blow from a sailboat. I have seen the sun; felt the rain on my skin. I've been lost and found, but mostly I've been waiting. Oh I'm out in the waves. I'm hoping and praying. Please let this wind blow me home. Night after night there's and empty horizon and my God do I feel so alone. Sometimes I, most times I, feel just like a sailboat..."

Going to the concert last night (even solo) was a life changing experience. I hope you take the time to listen to Ben Rector.

Buy This: Ya'll Sweatshirt

It's the middle of October, the leaves are starting to change, girls are wearing leggings, the temperatures are beginning to dip, and Starbucks is serving Pumpkin Spice Lattes. YUP! It's fall, y'all!

One thing I didn't like about Texas this summer was the lack of trees compared to my home in Tennessee...one thing I LOVE about North Carolina is how many MORE trees it has than Tennessee. HOLY COW! I'm looking forward to a weekend drive through the mountains with my camera to capture the absolutely amazing beauty.

Now I know yesterday was a Buy This post, but thanks to my friends at Old Try, I found out about this little gem that went on sale today at Kentucky For Kentucky. That's right, this "Y'all" sweatshirt went on sale first this this morning as a play off of the coveted "Yale" sweatshirts for ivy league wannabes (I can say that...because in high school I wore a Harvard hoodie).

So head on over to Kentucky For Kentucky and pick one up today!

Buy This: Old Try

As I mentioned yesterday, I recently moved to Durham, North Carolina (RTP). I have a great apartment that was put together with items from my old apartment, my childhood home, my dad's house, and even my stepmom's old house. Everything came together perfectly. There are a few pieces on the walls but not much. So for Christmas this year I have introduced my friends and family to Old Try. My hope is to fill some of the blank spaces with reminders of my southern heritage and my old Tennessee home (sorry, Kentucky).

I've always been a statesman. I take pride in my home and the history behind the Volunteer State. Whereas I have moved to an AMAZING place, nothing will ever replace Tennessee and the memories I have there.

It's only appropriate that I pay homage to my home.


So while my family begins to search for the perfect gift for me this Christmas (cough cough) I reached out to Marianna & Micah Whitson of Old Try to pick their brains a little bit about their tribute to good ole' Dixie.

 

 Old Try has a great collection of state and city themed prints as well as prints that generally apply to the south as a whole. The great thing about the South is our rich heritage and unique traditions.  So I found myself a few North Carolina prints to show represent the new chapter in my live. Check out a few prints and shirts for yourself and keep reading to see the interview with the folks behind Old Try! 

 NAME: Micah Whitson

HOMETOWN: Athens, AL

CURRENT CITY: Charlotte, NC

ALMA MATER: Ole Miss (Business) 

WHEN WAS YOUR COMPANY ESTABLISHED 2011

WHY OLD TRY? Well, Old Try wasn't going to make prints, initially. I came up with an idea of making throwback college letter sweaters. So, Old Try came from the old college try. Figured we might as well give it a shot and see where it would take us. And the logo just kind of came to my brain. The hammer represents the state bird of Alabama (the yellowhammer) and the scissors represent the textile history of NC.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU? After being up North for four years, I really started missing home. And just a few weeks earlier, I'd seen a really beautiful letterpress poster on a light pole. So on the bus home one evening, I said 'Drop the sweaters. Let's make posters for the South. And send those love letters on home.

WHAT'S YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE? Bourbon, neat. 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SONG? Most of them. 

WHO DO YOU CHEER FOR EACH SATURDAY? - My Rebels of Oxford, Mississippi  

Now Playing: "Dear Alice" by The Dirty Guv'nahs

Music Monday: Amos Lee

Again, I apologize for the lack of posts lately. This time it is for an exciting reason! About 3 weeks ago I got a phone call asking me to fly to North Carolina for a follow up job interview for my dream job. The next day I was offered the position and asked to start within about a week. LET THE CHAOS BEGIN! Luckily all my belongings were already boxed and in storage from my last move prior to my travels in Texas all summer. So here I sit. In my cubicle at work in Chapel Hill, NC. It's been relatively gloomy for the past week or so and today is the perfect day for today's Music Monday musician.

When I first found out I would be moving to Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill I hopped on TicketMaster to see what concerts would be in the area. My friend had been asking me to go to the Amos Lee concert in Memphis and/or Nashville prior to me moving and I hated I wouldn’t be able to make it. LUCKILY! Amos Lee will be in NC the following week.

 I first started listening to Amos Lee back in 2006 when I was in my musical prime. Between my own music career and the variety of indie artists I was listening to, I had it together. His self-titled album remains one of my favorites (Arms of a Woman is one of my go to songs)

 But Amos Lee has other great albums, including his most recent one, “Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song”. This week’s Music Monday post comes from that album. “Chill In The Air” has been on repeat all morning.  

“Well the morning came like a freight train, bearing down on me from a thousand miles away. Well it came and gone and kept rolling on, laying up all night with tear stained sheets as my veil…now the evening’s come, and I’m all alone. And I can’t tell if silence is my foe or my friend. Well I’m holding on, but I ain’t too strong. I’ve gotta get some rest before that train come back around the bend.”

 It’s not a Monday pick me up by any means. But on this rainy Monday it fits just fine.

Music Monday: Garrett Hinson

Photograph by Chad Karnes

For this week's Music Monday, I have chosen "Among the Weeds" by Garrett Hinson. I have watch Garrett Hinson grow musically over the years. From playing in church sanctuaries, coffee shops, and university student unions...he's come a long way and has been one of the most talented musicians I've ever shared a stage with.

At the age of 17, Garrett was one of the most diverse musicians I had heard. With a wide range of musical influences. I've seen him grow through multiple bands. I've heard him sing the songs of home with a bluegrass feel. I've heard him sing with his soul as he belts the blues.

Enjoy this little ditty and start your week off on the right foot! When you get home, be sure to download Garrett's album on iTunes or listen on SoundCloud. 

Bow Tie Friday: Volunteer Traditions

For this week's Bow Tie Friday, I reached out to my buddy Mason Jones at Volunteer Traditions. It is only appropriate that I feature a great Tennessee company after just arriving back home in Memphis. Volunteer Traditions brings pride back to the states, a truly Southern way of life. They feature great accessories like bow ties, belts, key chains, and koozies as well as AWESOME shirts. One of my personal favorites are the different versions of the Tennessee flag (various colors) that are perfect for your upcoming tailgating needs. I also hear that they will have some great stuff coming out next week so you should definitely check it out!

YOUR NAME:

Mason Jones

HOMETOWN:

White House, TN

CURRENT CITY:

Nashville, TN

ALMA MATER:

I studied business at the University of Tennessee

WHEN WAS YOUR COMPANY ESTABLISHED?

2006

WHY VOLUNTEER TRADITIONS?

Back when we created the brand the only thing that was being made was South Carolina merchandise. South Carolina's flag features the Palmetto & Crescent Moon and is called the Palmetto State. So, we looked at the state of Tennessee, which nickname is the "Volunteer State",  and thought it would make the most sense to build off that concept.

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

We honestly just wanted to make Tennessee Flag Belts as we saw a variety of South Carolina products and believed that Tennessee needed the quality products that didn't look like they came from Gatlinburg....you know the outline of a state with a guitar/bass fish/etc jumping out of the state.

When we got the belts in, it was obvious that people loved the concept and we made hats and ties shortly after featuring the "Tristar" image/ It's such a clean design, and the circle with 3 stars looks awesome on a hat/tie/tee due to the basic concept and balance.

As we grew, we set out to make designs that were original for each state featuring the intricate designs of the state's flag within the outline of the state. Some were easier/better received than others due to the nature of the state's flag.

WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?

We have had a blast making our products the past couple of years. We have really enjoyed seeing how passionate people are about where they are from, not only in Tennessee, but all over The South.

WHAT IS YOUR JAM?

Tough question...people tell me that I like terrible music. Either "In a Big Country" by Big Country or "Deep As It Is Wide" by Eric Paslay. 

WHAT FOOTBALL TEAM ARE YOU READY TO SEE TAKE THE FIELD?

Tennessee, since I spent the better half of a decade there.

The Yellow Cab (Crispy Apple Cocktail with Bacon Garnish)

Like any American man, I love bacon. I was extremely impressed by my friend, Suzanne, last Valentines Day when she gave her boyfriend a heart shaped box full of cooked bacon, although the was no time to snap a picture for evidence due to the quickness with which he consumed the gift.

The immense popularity of bacon has people creating all sorts of ways in which to utilize it outside of a breakfast side dish/staple. For this week's CHEERS! post, I bring you The Yellow Cab (Crispy Apple Bacon). This recipe also calls for candied bacon as a garnish, which is GREAT as a stand alone snack!

For the Candied Bacon:

6 slices of bacon (the smokier the better!)

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

Maple Syrup (to lightly coat bacon with sugar to stick)

***For y'all with access to H-E-B, I suggest 1 teaspoon Better Than Good Bacon Jam

For the Drink:

1 1/2 ounces rum (I used Texas-made White Hat premium rum)

3 1/2 ounces apple juice

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 to 3 drops old-fashioned bitters

Pinch of salt

Put It All Together

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Toss the bacon in a bowl with the brown sugar and syrup/bacon jam and place on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet so the fat drips down. Bake until it's very crisp, about 30 minutes. Let cool.

2. Combine the rum, apple juice, lemon juice, bitters and salt in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into a lowball glass. Garnish with a slice of candied bacon.