Nashville!

I've wanted to run away to Nashville ever since I saw this 1993 movie about the pursuit of professional songwriting, one of River Phoenix's last performances. 





I'll be in town for a mini-family reunion, with four of my five first cousins, all female. Naturally the girly thing to do is to check out the Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney show at LP Field with 68,798 of our closest new friends. 


Though good for family bonding, not so great for taking in quality music (like Audrey Auld for example). And though she's not playing while I'm in town, Audrey did give me a list of places to check out. Always open to more ideas & suggestions... 


I'd still kinda like to know the way to Trisha Yearwood's house, though.

Things to Do in Tampa When You're Not Dead

Tampa lost one of its finest do-gooders this week, and Ronny & I one of our closest friends. This post is for Tommy, who came late to loving live music in Tampa. But better late than never?

Music abounds in Tampa in December so it's easy to celebrate the season or just being alive. Hope to see you out there.

On Friday, Diana Jones is playing 88.5's Live Music Showcase. You can catch Diana on Sunday, December 5th at 3 p.m at the UU Dome, with Linda Fackeldey opening.

Austin-based musician Andrew Hardin will play a live set on WMNF at 9 a.m on Saturday morning. Get up close to Andrew & his music (and 20-30 or so of your new best friends) the following day at a Lunazoot house concert at 3 p.m. in north Tampa.

On Saturday evening join Tasmanian-turned-Nashville, Tennessean songwriter Audrey Auld at Gram's Place. Another intimate venue not to be missed. (It'll also be my 32nd birthday party. Thanks in advance to my mom for bringing a pineapple upside down cake.)

Also happening Saturday night is Jobsite Theater's annual fundraiser,

Jobsite Rocks! VII at New World Brewery in Ybor. Music by The Vodkanauts, Pale Orchestra, and ex-Famous Monsters of Filmland. The show starts at 9 p.m.

And these are just the handful of shows that came to my email inbox, so I know there's a ton more out there that you can find via the traditional routes: TBO, TBT, Reax, CL, WMNF. (What else did I miss?)

Get out there and find something to do!

P.S. If you love (or hate) the Deep South and Molly Ringwald, go read Ernessa T. Carter's 32 Candles. It's a classic dysfunctional family drama with a twisted love story and lots of humor.

Photo above of Ronny, me and Tommy after Tommy married us on 3/28/09

RX Drug Abuse in Florida

So this should be the last edit to my prescription drug abuse video for USF.

I feel like Robert Rodriguez working without a crew and the barest of video necessities, but I'm really happy with the end result. The best part may have been playing with the soundtrack. I knew I hung around musicians for a good reason.