Highlights from 2011
2011 was an incredible year. Full of unforgettable moments.
The most important and exciting happened on April 4 when Sara and I got married in a small family ceremony at Moonshine Hill in Leipers Fork. I will forever be grateful she said yes. We had an amazing honeymoon being pampered at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Parasio and taking in the sights and amazing food of South Beach Miami.
Together as husband and wife we took a road trips to Memphis to see the Foo Fighters & Motorhead, to Louisville to see Jimmy Eat World for Sara's birthday, and to Atlanta to see the Foo Fighters again. We also saw the U2360 tour in Nashville, Sade, and Death Cabe For Cutie. We saw classic films like Rear Window, Jaws, and A Christmas Story at the re-opened Franklin Theatre. We also went to Disney World for a few days and to PA for a Penn State game and celebration of our wedding with my PA family and friends. We ended the year with trips to Maui for a week where we chilled on the beach, snorkeled,took in some amazing sunsets and I threw it down at Maui Brewing Company. And then to PA to see my family for Christmas.
The Moist family grew with the birth of Aslan Jude.
I read 2 books…completely on my iPhone. RED: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar and Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul.
I continued my 30 Day Challenge idea this year but did 2 (at the same time) during June. I tackled sit-ups and pictures. I did sit-ups every day starting with 3 reps of 10 and increasing it by 1 rep in each set every day. I ended the month doing a total of 114 on the last day. I also jumped on the Instagram train and took a picture every day (not of the sit-ups). I've continued posting pictures on Instagram...but the sit-ups stopped.
Killer times at the Franklin Main Street Brew Fest with Eddy, JR and Bill…and the Flying Saucer Beer Fest with JR.
My 15 year high school reunion from Harrisburg Christian School.
I saw U2 on the 360 tour for the 3rd time, the 2nd time this year, when I took my brother to see them in Pittsburgh for his 30th birthday.
I met the only child of Johnny and June Carter Cash…John Carter...got to ask him so questions and have him autograph his new book House of Cash.
I got a new tattoo.
And lastly, a song that I worked on as A&R for Gotee Records, "Hold Me" by Jamie Grace, is nominated for a Grammy.
Thursday Tune: Heaven Come My Way by Abandon Kansas
I love these guys. I'm very proud to have worked on this song and the album. The director Kevin Wildt did a killer job.
Download the song for FREE at AmazonMp3.com.
Their brand new album, Ad Astra Per Aspera, releases next week.
Highlights from 2010
The year started out with a sense of change coming in 2010. And change did come.
I flew to New Hampshire to surprise my Dad for his 60th birthday.
All things LOST. The sixth and final season premiered on my 32nd birthday. An episode featured someone I know as an extra. Our Dharma themed finale party.
Sara took me to my first Vanderbilt men's basketball game.
Sara and I took our first road trip to Chattanooga and hit up places like Terminal Brewhouse, Greyfriars, and Clumpies which have now become some favorites.
I signed up for the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club. I would need to drink 70 of their 80 beers to become part of the club. I finished my 70th beer and joined the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club AND got my name on the wall.
In March I took a self imposed challenge of trying 1 new beer a day for 30 days. After the challenge I kept trying new beers (but not at 1 a day). In all I have tried over 160 new beers this year.
Went to the Franklin Main Street Brew Fest, the 9th annual Music City Brewers Festival and enjoyed a fall beer tasting at Flying Saucer and a winter beer tasting at Stogies.
Road trip to Murray, KY to see tobyMac and House of Heroes but not without a stop in Paris first. Paris, TN that is.
Finally purchased my own record player and got serious about vinyl. Probably a bad thing but it's a lot of fun.
First visit to Martin's BBQ was when they we were doing a taping for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Took a mini-vaca in Cali in April. Sara had flown out earlier to help her family with the Festival of Life. The Coachella music festival took place while I was there but instead of going to that we enjoyed the pool, the Palm Springs Tramway, and the Beer Hunter.
Went to my first Predators playoff game…they lost.
Finally had my wisdom teeth taken out.
Spent 2 days volunteering to help those that lost everything in the Nashville flood. It was a very humbling and rewarding experience.
Sara and I spent her birthday in New Hampshire with my folks. We had amazing day trips to: Perkin's Cove in Ogunquit, ME (where I enjoyed fresh lobster rolls at Footbridge Lobster and Barnacle Billy's), Portsmouth (where I tried the 10 beer sampler at Portsmouth Brewery), Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith and of course BOSTON. I even tried deep fried French Toast for the first time at Parker's Maple Barn.
Participated in my 2nd Cow Appreciation Day.
Road trip with Sara and the Powers to Louisville, KY to see Louis of Gasoline Heart perform. But not before we stopped at the Zappos outlet, had brunch at Lynn's Paradise Cafe, checked out the 21c Museum Hotel, and had some killer brews and amazing apps at Cumberland Brewery.
Flew to PA to surprise my fam for my niece Eva's 1st birthday. We had a blast together.
The hardest album I have ever worked on (House of Heroes "Suburba") as A&R and Marketing Manager debuted at #48 on Billboard's Top 200 after it's release on August 3.
I finally got to see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers when the MOJO Tour hit Nashville. And with some of my favorite people...Sara and the McNeelys.
Another trip to PA for Purple Door and hang time with Eva.
Sara and I got to see the Chihuly Nights exhibit at Cheekwood.
Sara, Tobin, and I "made the paper" after attending the Thompson Station First Annual Sweet Tea Festival at the Homestead Manor Plantation.
Started watching Penn State games with Nashville Penn Staters. Chatted it up with local weather man Dan Thomas.
Sara and I joined the McNeely family of friends for a few days in Las Vegas. I won $80 the first night in a rock/paper/scissors tournament but that was my only win. We had a blast staying at the Encore, catching a FREE showing of Le Reve, walking the strip, and placing a few bets on some horses.
Went to the Titans 2010 season home opener.
Road trip with Sara, Beth, and Frank to ATL to see Jimmy Eat World.
Saw FREE advance screenings of The Town, Due Date, and True Grit courtesy of GoFoBo.com.
I moved into a new place in downtown Franklin. I even got a bike to ride to work.
Met Jim Breuer.
Found out I'm gonna be an uncle for the 2nd time.
Spent Thanksgiving in Omaha, NE visiting Sara's extended family. Had a blast playing "pass the ace". Loved Beertopia and the Element.
Ending the year with Sara in California.
Eva, Suburba, Beer Club and Vegas
Well, a lot has happened the past 2 months and because of that the time has flown by. As I mentioned earlier, my site was hacked causing it to be offline for about a month so thus no updates. But anyways, here's a quick run down of what's happened.
- I flew home to PA at the end of July to surprise my family for my niece Eva's 1st birthday.
I hadn't seen her since January. On my last day there she really warmed up to me...
...and we had a blast together.
- The 9th annual Music City Brewer's Festival was a blast. The rain held off long enough for me to try a few new beers including some from Good People Brewing Company in Birmingham, AL.
- Work kept me really busy. Gotee's one "new" album of our four releases this year was House of Heroes latest called "Suburba". I have never worked as hard as I did as A&R and Marketing as I did for this release. And the result of the band delivering a great album and our hard work was that after it's first week of sales we saw it debut at #48 on Billboard's 200. I've jotted down some thoughts for a blog called "Marketing 'Suburba'" so we'll see if I ever post it. If you haven't seen their music video for the song "God Save The Foolish Kings" please do so below.
House of Heroes "God Save The Foolish Kings" from Gotee Records on Vimeo.
- I finally got to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers along with Sara and JR & Lori McNeely. When "I Won't Back Down" and "Free Fallin'" are third and fourth in the set you know it's gonna be a great night. I was smiling and singing along the whole time. It was an incredible show from Tom despite the long opening set by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
- The very next day Sara and I flew up to PA for the annual Purple Door Festival. It's always a great trip because I get to see my family and get to see some of the bands we work with.
- Sara and I went to the Chihuly Nights exhibit at Cheekwood. Definitely one of the coolest things I have seen.
- After signing up for the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club on February 25th I became an official member on September 3rd.
- Sara, Tobin and I had our picture in The Tennessean.
- Sara and I joined a group of friends for a trip to Las Vegas for a few days.
I won $80 the first night in a $5 buy in rock paper scissors tournament but that was my only win. But that didn't stop us from having a blast! We were even given free tickets to see Le Reve, which was great, and had In-N-Out twice. I can't wait to go back!
- I signed a lease on a new place in downtown Franklin. I'll be moving in less than 2 weeks. It's hard to believe I've been in my apartment for just over 2 years so I know there'll be an adjustment with the new place. I'm excited the most about the location of the new place. It's less than 1/2 mile from Gotee so there's now the ability to walk or bike to work and to the spots I like to eat and hang out. There's also a great patio which means I can finally fire up my grill. I just hope that since its last use over 3 years ago that it still works.
Anyways, that's the latest.
Tuesday Tune: Close Your Eyes by Abandon Kansas
I try not to pimp out bands I work with too much from my site or from my Twitter account unlike so many of my friends in the biz. But when it comes to Abandon Kansas I have to spread the word when I can because I am extremely proud to be working with these guys and I feel their music and work goes unnoticed.
As I wrote in back in July I'm glad I could have my friends Mark Lee Townsend, JR McNeely, Ethan Luck, and Eddy Boer help me create an EP that sounded and looked amazing. So when the time came to shoot a video I was excited that I could reach out to Nathan Corrona again and ask him to direct a video for their song "Close Your Eyes". My only direction was to have some or all of the video in black & white to keep the marketing consistent with that of the EP cover. The above video is the result and I am extremely proud of it. Ok, time to get off my soapbox.
Download the song at 
Tweets
- thx to my wife, the Powers, McNeelys @eddyboer A-Cates @hillbillyslim and the bearded wonder for the KILLER b-day surprise @CorsairArtisan
- RT @iTunesMusic: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours was released 35 years ago today. #70sClassic http://t.co/buRklHbI
- Do yourself a favor and go listen to one of the greatest albums of all time today...Fleetwood Mac's #Rumors. It released 35 years ago today.
- RT @AKJeremySpring: When you're doing what you were made to do you, you couldn't care less about what everyone else is up to.
- group shot from the last mix on the new @houseofheroes album @ Paragon Studios http://t.co/vIf4dtLV
Listening To
- The Shins – Simple Song
- L.A. Guns – One More Reason
- Kix – Blow My Fuse
- Europe – Cherokee
- White Lion – Wait
- Britny Fox – Girlschool
- Winger – Seventeen
- Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine
- Alice Cooper – Poison
- Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
Instagr.am
