#loved the socal vibes this lighting was giving me

[bobnewbie]

finally...it is finished

[thediverismylove]

LOVER TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW

i forgot that you existed — don’t like the beginning she sounds like a robot lol. “in my feelings more than drake”??? girl no thank you. not a big fan of this song. 3/10. fave lyric is “it isn’t love / it isn’t hate / it’s just indifference”; least fave is “in my feelings more than drake, yeah”.

cruel summer — love the production on this one! her voice sounds really good and i love the way she sings “cruel summer”. 8.5/10. fave lyric is “so cut the headlights / summer’s a knife / i’m always waiting for you just to cut to the bone”; no least fave lyrics here!

lover — the TENDERNESS of this song! love how easy and pretty and acoustic it it is. 9.5/10. fave lyric is “my heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue / all’s well that ends well to end up with you”; no least fave again!

the man — okay “when everyone believes you / what’s that like?” wig! also when she’s like if i was a man…….then i’d be the man…….and the synths do That in the background? it does feel very Feminism 101 in the verses but the chorus is fun! idk i expected more from this one and it’s def fun but not an all time fave. 6/10. fave lyric is “i’m so sick of running as fast as i can / wondering if i’d get there quicker if i was a man”; least fave is “and they would toast to me, oh, let the players play / i’d be just like leo in saint tropez”.

the archer — SO gorgeous and vulnerable! love the gentle and introspective vibes of this one and how simple the backing track is. her voice is so pretty in this one! would love to hear this totally acoustic. 9.5/10. fave lyric is “i cut off my nose just to spite my face / and i hate my reflection for years and years”; least fave is the pre-chorus bit that’s similar to humpty dumpty you know the one lol.

i think he knows — ugh hate the intro again talky-singing works well for her sometimes but it really doesn’t work here. very bored by this one. it feels like it’s trying so hard to be fun but it doesn’t have particularly interesting instrumentals/synths/whatever and her voice is way too talky-singy for me here. the last chorus is kinda fun but not enough to fix the whole song. 4/10. favorite lyric is “he got my heartbeat / skipping down sixteenth avenue baby”; least fave is “he got that boyish look that i like in a man / i am an architect, i’m drawing up the plans”.

miss americana & the heartbreak prince — pretty intro! the talky-singing works a little better for me here. the pageant/prom conceit is fun. very amused by her still comparing her adult life to high school prom considering she left high school at like what 15/16 for music? jdeasjkkjcskjn it’s fun tho this song is fun. i have a feeling this one will grow on me. 8/10. fave lyric is “we're so sad, we paint the town blue / voted most likely to run away with you”; least fave is the “she’s a bad bad girl bit” lol 

paper rings — ooh fun intro! like whatever effect they have over her voice. this one has a really cool beat. like the kiss me once/kiss me twice bit. the chorus is really sweet! the tune is very dance-worthy. i could def see this being played in a romcom (cue me adding it to the playlist for my gay summer camp romcom). didn’t expect to like this one so much but i’m enjoying it a lot so far! idk abt the lyrics im not even listening that closely jfekwjakjnkjn i just love the beat and the effect they have over her voice. also can’t stop thinking about when rey @theglowpt2 said “wrap your arms around me, baby boy” sounds something the try guys would shout at each other lmfao. 8.5/10. fave lyric is “darling, you’re the one i want / and paper rings and picture frames and dirty dreams / oh, you’re the one i want”; least fave is “wrap your arms around me, baby boy” bc of aforementioned try guys energies making it humorous instead of cute as intended for me.

cornelia street — like her voice in the intro it sounds very pretty and soft! don’t like the weird synth thing going on at the beginning tho it’s giving me a headache. don’t like the way she launches into the chorus it feels very abrupt. “we bless the rains on cornelia street” lol is this a toto ref? this one is pretty underwhelming ngl. her voice is pretty in some places here though. would probably enjoy an acoustic version of this a lot more. 6/10. fave lyric is “and baby, i get mystified by how this city screams your name”; no least fave lyric but i hate those loud synth things at the beginning more than anything.

 death by a thousand cuts — totally thought this was gonna be a song about like. bitter ~haters~ or smth by the title. her voice is really pretty after the “my my my” bit! love the synths in this one. the line about the traffic lights…...wig! okay totally expected to not like this one but i kinda like it. laughing at her going “UNITED WE STAND” tho lmfao. this one will def grow on me. 8/10. fave lyric is “i ask the traffic lights if it’ll be alright / they say i don’t know”; least fave is “our songs, our films, united we stand / our country, guess it was a lawless land”.

london boy — oh excited for the absolute INSANITY of this one girls! DID SHE JUST REFER TO HER HOMETOWN AS SOCAL GIRL YOU ARE FROM PENNSYLVANIA!!!!! also so amused about she needs to reference the fact that she is american and her bf is british so many times. if i heard this song out in public i’d have to die. did she make a p!atd ref lol. unfortunate as hell but it’s kinda fun. 4/10. fave is none of it; least fave is all of it. 

 soon you’ll get better — oh this one is gonna make me SOB i just know it!!!! the vulnerableness of it all. thank you for a song about family ms taylor! the harmonies w the dixie chicks i’m ascending. this one is so so gorgeous and heartbreaking and the first song off this album that actually really made me Feel Something. 10/10. fave lyric is “the buttons of my coat were tangled in my hair / in doctor’s office lighting / i didn’t tell you i was scared”; no least fave!!! She’s Perfect

 false god — intro is fun! i like her voice in this one it���s #sexi. the line abt being nyc is funny lol…..girl what does that mean you are not a town what does that MEAAAAN. taylor swift said YES i fuck what about it in this song. the line about being the west village…...what does that mean? he’s expensive??? 6.5/10. fave lyric is “the altar is my hips / even if it’s a false god / we’d still worship this love”; least fave is “staring out the window like i’m not your favorite town / i’m new york city, i’d still do it for you, babe”.

 you need to calm down — i REFUUUUSE to listen to this song all the way it’s so corny and ridiculous. taylor rly thot she was doing smth w this one. 3.5/10. no fave lyric; least fave is like. ALL of it it’s very cheesy.

 afterglow — pretty vocals! love me some vulnerable songs. not much to say about this one lol. i like the chorus a lot. 7.5/10. fave lyric is “fighting with a true love is boxing with no gloves / chemistry 'til it blows up, 'til there’s no us / why'd I have to break what i love so much?”; least fave is “tell me that it’s not my fault / tell me that i’m all you want / even when i break your heart”.

 me! — unpopular opinion but i actually prefer me! to yntcd. idk why i just feel like me! knows how ridiculous and silly it is but yntcd does not. maybe that’s just me tho? 4/10. can’t believe she killed the best line of all time aka “hey kids spelling is fun”...that was HILARIOUSLY BAD AND WONDERFUL AT THE SAME TIME. that would’ve been the fave; least fave is the awkward uncomfortable space where “hey kids spelling is fun” used to be.

 it’s nice to have a friend — very forgettable. her vocals here are pretty but the song overall is nothing special imo. do like the dreamy vibes tho! 4.5/10. fave or least fave lyrics tbh it’s just boring to me pretty but boring.

 daylight — WHY is taylor swift so obsessed w/ mentioning that some of her friends turned out to be dicks. absolutely OBSESSED w/ that edit that’s like “i wounded the good and trusted the wicked” over katy perry and karlie kloss respectively it’s peak comedy. very pretty vocals but has some unfortunate lyrics! 5.5/10. fave lyric is “i, i just think that / you are what you love”; least fave is “i wounded the good and i trusted the wicked / clearing the air, i breathed in the smoke”.

overall: probably like a 6.5/10? had some really great tracks like lover & the archer & soon you’ll get better but also some BAD ones like me!, yntcd, and i forgot that you existed. it was a fun time but not an all time fave. in terms of tswift album rankings i’m not sure where i’d put it yet get back to me on that one. anyways i’m gonna go listen to lucy dacus now bye

[artoflifehealingarts]

Come on It's what we are We are not plastic Wrapped in delusion of what? You trade your whole life for it all. You are not Even in fucking Presence when you Goin In Deeper Through The person You are Experiencing That! That need not desire Need for that instant gratification Is messing with your minds. #spirituality is now a #market #statistic #consumerism I wanna sell you a secret and beat off on ayahuasca all your donations and #money because I know a way to get Out Motha Fakkers and I will sell it to you all day long. Because I know a way out. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😋but for some reason now I am in new spirituality chains and chasing money again Allowing it to Flow in because I can and it feels so good I dont wanna go further I wanna stay and enjoy this money. The #gurus tell you to your face they Know the fucking way and they dont. Take it? Hmmm Sounds fishy to me. I wanna give as much as I can to the open mouths. Survive give receive, allow myself to experience the energy of money in a state if ecstatic bliss for it to #FLOW through me. Inhaling exhaling through all over 100 plus unblocked chakras And then in September I go off grid. Be Shaman Write a book with ALL of the filth one last good shake out. Gotta tell you how I how I got to each Epiphany Then after 2 books Maybe come out for Australia Or I take it #deeper And journey more #meditate again for days at a time. Cycles of 23 hours One hour waking #fasting chanting Voice for tone To move #energy #manipulation #light #love #vibe with me Inside Yourself Take it deeper #biensuave #yatusabes #sandiego #coronado #socal #losangeles I know and I am leaving No sir Money made from books for legacy but no need I like total liberation Not the sale of my path Lots of free stuff in this IG https://www.instagram.com/shaktidurga_me/p/Bseah95Feix/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cdvb7pdokeb5

[makingnewenemies]

Hi Hi Hi. Here is a little blurb I wrote off the top of my head about all my friends on this year’s Group Picture Vol. 8. I love them all. I love their songs. And I love that we still keep up this stupid tradition; and somehow the comp keeps getting better and better. Thanks everyone! Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays :) - walt

Sour Guy - All Those Plans Were Wrong

Last summer Kris Schobert (Sour Guy, Walter Etc. / Mitty core member, Ernie…) was admitted to the hospital… and then again… and then again…. I think he spent like a month total in the hospital. It was not chill. But when he got out, the whole experience gave him a bit of clarity and new perspective on his life and the decisions he has made thus far. I won’t speak any further for him, but Kris… hey, nice song! And your quality home recording production and continuation of the WMAHMO slop sound doesn’t not go unnoticed! This song made me tear up in a coffee shop the first time I heard it. 

Slaughter Beach, Dog - Big Band

Slaughter Beach, Dog are randomly GP staples by now but also one of my favorite bands and greatest friends. This song is a bit of a sound change for them, swapping mid tempo soft rock John K Sampson vibes for a theatrical late 60’s / 70’s sound that is a bit more light hearted than normal and I LOVE IT. It’s catchy, it makes me laugh, yet its so true. Glad to have these boys back this year.

Teal & Jer - Alphabet

Portland’s dreamiest duo Teal & Jer (Chain, Riled, Loose, lots of projects) bring a quirky alt edge to our otherwise bland and boring comp. Without them, we’d just be us. I personally would like to hear more Teal solo work??? Teal???

Milk Flud - Rodeo

If you don’t fuck with Milk Flud then you can get out.

Chase Hoyt - Health

Chase Hoyt (Ubu Roi, Feed, Chaz and the Minions of Chaz, The Rodeo…) is a GP fixture by now, and important asset to MNE because it’s his classic rock sensibilities that balance out the overload of folk / indie rock that we swim in. This song not only has a comically true message (health is the most important, i agree Chase) but the vibe, especially the chorus, has my head bobbing and me feeling like I’m on a grassy hillside at an outdoor concert in the 70’s, but also one glass of wine deep making homemade pizzas at an Air BNB with a girl I love, and that is a nice combo of feelings. ��Let’s wrap it up / I’ve embarrassed us all enough”

Dry Goods - Learnt Nothing

You hear that flawless acoustic finger picking? That masculine story telling voice that sounds somewhere between a suburban Bob Dylan and a cowboy singing to the emptiness of the high desert? Yup, its Russell Park AKA Dry Goods and FKA Weston Bookhouse coming at us with another folk masterpiece, but this year adding in some new elements we aren’t quite used to- namely some cruisey guitar solos! Rumor has it Dry Goods is in the studio recording a new album right now and I would not be bummed out if this song were on it.

Byronius Punk - Beautiful Things

I just spent 3 weeks with Byronius Punk (Ian Farmer of Slaugher Beach, Dog / Modern Baseball) at his studio The Metal Shop in Philadelphia making a record with his beautiful mind and his new drum machine- so this song really hits home for me. I could write an essay on why this is the perfect Group Picture song- my three main points being - 1. It is a song about the act of creating. (“in everything that exists there lies a certain beauty / I want the world to know how much it all means to me”) which is exactly what Group Picture aims to celebrate. 2. It’s a song written and performed by someone who is usually more in the background of his bands (bassist / backup vox / recording engineer) but here has a platform to express his own individual style and skills, which is exactly what Group Picture wants to promote. 3. It has a Milk Flud name drop, which is a classic and classy GP / MNE move. Thank you Ian. You rule.

Dante Elephante - It Bothers Me

Dante Elephante are Santa Barbara legends and their new album “Rare Attractions” shows them evolving their sound into more loungey and ethereal territory. I am so glad they have joined GP this year, because I see singer / songwriter Ruben almost every weekend when he DJ’s at The Tavern in Ventura and I drunkenly annoy him / vaguely fan boy out on him. Dante being on Group Picture is a sign that our friendship extends beyond Saturday nights at the Tavern. Also their album vibes hard. Check out Rare Attractions on Spotify.

Peanut Butter Cups - Highest Quality

Petition for Aaron Kovacs (Peanut Butter cups, Lauren Records CEO, Winter Break and Summer Vacation drummer) to finally put out a full album? This catchy lo-fi pop rock is undeniably infectious. Fun fact: I’ve been hanging with this boy for almost 10 years and I’ve never heard him sing, but then he sends me these recordings and I’m like wtf your voice is so cool! If he makes a full album, MNE will put out the LP and still give him 100% of the digital income. That is how much I like Aaron’s style. 

Anika Pyle - Young Love

I once wrote a song with the lyric “I’ll probably see her on tour but she won’t be on Group Picture this year.” I’m so glad I was wrong. Welcome to GP Anika Pyle! Anika (Katie Ellen, Chumped) plays raw emotional pop rock songs and this gem “Young Love” is just the tip of the iceberg. When her vocals max out at the end of the tune and you get a little bit of musical goosebumps, that is the feeling you get for a full 30 minutes of watching her play live. Anika, please come in and stay for a while! 

Walter Etc. - This Would Only Happen to Me

Ok ok enough of the soft emotional bullshit. Here’s a song about someone coming to kill me! It’s 100% true. If you’re reading this, help!!!

Jake Lee - Good Run

Jake Lee (Bleeding Gums Murphy) strikes again with a lo-fi indie gem in which we hear Jake Lee reflect on his gaime from last year. Sounds like he made some interesting choices and is coming to terms with them? Or did I miss the mark, Jake? He is and always will be one of my favorite songwriters and his voice in this fuzz effect is not a bad look, I have to admit. The only way my life would be better is if Jake made a full album. Cheers homie.

Babytooth - State Quarters, OR

Technically, this is Babytooth’s official debut on Group Picture, but Portland, OR singer / songwriter Isabel Zacharias had a song on the comp last year that blew me away. It was her vocals and lyrics that hooked me then, and are still yanking me now. Now backed by a full band that gives dynamic range to her songs, it was still that first line “now you know you want a girl without a phone” that had me nodding “yup i love this”. Fingers crossed for Babytooth to become a GP staple.

Trashbike - Weasel

Trashbike is Bread (Blowout, Walter etc., Donkey Lips) and his homie Ru playing the pedals. He told me he wrote this song while stumbling home from the Bye and Bye. Bread is like a sexy emo prince, can’t you hear it? This song rules and I really hope Trashbike is more than just a one and done GP band. I would listen to a few albums of soft songs like this, wouldn’t you?

Banned From Japan - Vegan X

Welcome back to the Socal Valley punk rockers Banned From Japan! If you know that singer / songwriter Matthew Earle has been sober for a few years, this song is hilarious, simultaneously poking fun at vegan straight-edge and himself. The music rips and his vocals are catchy af. Fat Wrecks Chords come and sign Banned From Japan asap!

Walter X - Winter Shy

Ok. This is a bit meta. Walter X (Michael Mahaffie and his WMAHMO / Walter Etc. hardcore chip tune cover project) covers an old Walter GP song as his own GP song. Pretty niche MNE content! This song, in this Lifetime-esque style, his vocals so clear but so gruff, those guitar harmonies, the creative intro and chip-tuney bridge…. this literally gives me chills and is so much better than the original. I encourage anyone reading this to go check out his own original music under the name Jump Cut. It sounds just like this but with Michael’s own songs, shedding the limitations of the musical simpleton Walter songs.  Also, check out the full Walter X album on Spotify! What a talented dude…

Curling - Genkai Trip

Curling released their MNE album “Definitely Band” this year and the musical arrangements / song structures absolutely floored me. Genkai Trip is a song that got left off the album, but lives on through GP! Singer / guitarist Bernie Gelman noted “There's some pretty wacky guitar overdubs where Jojo and I each doubled some guitar parts while the other person was playing with the trem on the guitar, so you get this really weird detuning effect.” and yup that is Curling in a nutshell for you. Always excited to play around with gear and recording techniques that are way beyond my level.  I think this is an extremely underrated band and highly encourage the world to check out Definitely Band on spotify!

Ali Muhareb - DIY Hell

Ali? What the hell did you even make this song? It’s intriguing in the verses and then when the chorus busts out it sounds like if Dough Martsch were an up and coming artist in Portland in 2018. I actually had to text Ali to ask what these guitar sounds were and, if anyone is interested, he responded, “I compressed two guitars together through a virtual amp. And they’re both running through this sick pedal I got called the Data Corrupter.” For sure Ali! Thanks for a bad ass tune.

Dakota Loesch - Don’t Solve My Mysteries

I’ve been listening to a lot of Dakota’s music (solo, Animal City, Lemp Lungs) recently. I keep coming back to it, and its not a mystery. After hundreds of songs in his pocket, songs like “Don’t Solve My Mysteries” still sound musically and lyrically fresh, like Dakota has never had writer’s block in his life. When I listen to his music, I feel like it vicariously breaks down my own creative barriers. For instance when I first heard this song and he dropped the hook “just don’t solve all mysterious” I had that knee-jerk urge to ditch what I was doing and go write a poem or something. His will to create is just that contagious. Combine that with the Casio-keyboard bedroom drum machine vibe that I love so much about his songs like “The Basmati Rice” and you have a 10/10 GP banger. 

Jerbear - Nowhere Girl

Jerbear is Jeremy Murphy (Teal & Jer, Riled, so many) and he is the king of a few things: weird bad guitar tones, asymmetrical organic song structures, rad lyrics that I never understand, and a voice that is universally loved. He stole my heart with Cranberries in the Cosmos on a previous GP, but I think Nowhere Girl takes the cake. Jer- when do we get the full solo album? Please don’t fall into the category of GP lost wonders. You’re not too shabby at this music thing! 

Hemingway - Catch My Cool

Catch My Cool is a B-side from Hemingway’s You Will Never Be Happy.

I played drums in Hemingway at this time and I always vibed that Benny didn’t really like the way this song came out int he studio. I don’t get why? That vocal melody, soft sad and surfy guitar leads… it makes me wanna hold hands with a girl on Christmas Eve while walking down some bougie street looking at Christmas Lights. It sounds like a Starflyer 59 worship track and I love it for that. Benny, you made a mistake. This song should have made the album. 

Alex Maddox - The Hypocrit’s Dilemma

I’ve heard Alex play this song when we get together to jam, and he always laughs it off as a Walter Mitty rip off song. But honestly, this is what I wish WMAHMO would write about if we made a folk punk record today. If you listen to this song knowing that Alex Maddox was a guy who quit his high paying job to travel Europe in his van, surfing and skating and working on farms, the lyrics to this song are way more wanna-be Walter Mitty. The song depicts a transformation in his paradigm and is completely raw, authentic, and sincere. Alex inspires me to chase a wholesome life that is designed for and by myself, rather than the obvious and sterile template that is provided for us, and this song exemplifies that 1000%. 

Uncle Uncle - Nira (I’m Alive)

We played with Uncle Uncle last year in Santa Barbara and I honestly think we should have opened for them. They are actually a good band, both live and recorded. Stylish, friendly, and comically laid back- they might be the quintessential Santa Barbara band. A semi-new band, Uncle Uncle is gaining momentum quickly, and I won’t be surprised when the day comes that Kevin and Dom big time me on State st. Til then, I’m just glad I get to claim that they were on a Group Picture. 

Humphrey Orlando - Set U Free

Ah, Humphrey. No, Humphrey accompanied by Toast. Two legends as old as MNE itself. What is there to say? I could listen to their wandering ballads til I fall into the Big Sleep, and still the melodies linger on…

[riley1cannon]

Favorite books of 2017

A Murder is Announced, Agatha Christie; Miss Marple mystery

The Zig Zag Girl, Elly Griffiths; first in the Magic Men mysteries (Brighton, after the war; DI Edgar Stephens & Max Mephisto – if you want to picture, say, Dan Stevens and Matthew Goode, I certainly won’t object – are on the case.)

Wouldn’t It Be Deadly?, D.E. Ireland (Eliza Doolittle has to prove Henry Higgings didn’t murder someone. Yes, I know, and honestly my expectations were set really low for this one, but it was vritually free so what the heck. Turned out to be fun, however, and the main trick was fancasting the characters in my head to provide distance from the musical.)

Ghost Talkers, Mary Robinette Kowal (The Great War, mediums employed – in a scheme dreamed up by Houdini and Cona Doyle – to debrief soldiers who have passed over; a cameo by J.R.R. Tolkein; a tear jerker romance; a murder and other skullduggery to solve; and ghosts.)

Design for Dying, Renee Patrick (Our heroine, Lillian Frost, teams up with not-yet-legendary costume designer Edith Head to solve the murder of a starlet – and Lillian’s former roommate – Ruby Carroll in 1930s Hollywood. Look for cameos by Preston Sturgess, Bob Hope, and Barbara Stanwyck, along with a fun cast of original characters, and a pretty good mystery.

Rules of Murder and Death by the Book, Julianna Deering (Books one and two in the Drew Farthering Golden Age-style mysteries. One head’s up: These are from a Christian book publisher, and matters of faith do pop up. It’s not pervasive or preachy, however, so unless you just absolutely loathe even the tiniest whiff of that, you should be able to enjoy these. Example: There is a romantic subplot going on, and while things are kept chaste and above board, there is plenty of sizzle going on between Drew and Madeline.)

Lost Among the Living, Simone St. James (The author’s farewell to the 1920s, but still featuring a heroine getting to the bottom of a what’s behind a haunting.)

A Fatal Winter, G.M. Malliet (The second Max Tudor mystery, and rather better than the first, although I enjoyed that too, with a couple of reservations. Max is former MI5 agent who left the service after a mission went bad, and found a new calling as vicar Nether Monkslip. His former skill set serves him well when murder comes to his parish. If you love Grantchester, this should go over well. Frankly, Max may prove better company than Sidney does at times.)

Lois Lane: Fallout, Gwenda Bond (While I didn’t love this one as much as hoped, it was still a lot of fun. There is a strong Smallville vibe, and that’s not a bad thing.)

Holding Court, K.C. Held (The other YA title on my list. This one is a mystery, with some romance, some laughs, and twist or two along the way. It’s a stand alone title but could easily be the start of a series.)

Speaking From Among the Bones & The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, Alan Bradley (Books five and six in the Flavia de Luce series.)

The Invisible Library, Genevieve Cogman (Librarians saving the universe, w/steampunk fanasty elements. Difficult to describe; heap of fun to read.)

Claws for Alarm & Crime and Catnip, T.C. LoTempio (Books two and three in the Nick and Nora cozy series. Nora is a former true crime reporter, now operating a sandwich shop in a fictional SoCal town; Nick is the cat who adopted her after his other human, a private eye, disappeared. If you like cozy mysteries with cats, this is a good series to check out. And in case you don’t know, cozy mysteries with cats is a huge, huge thing.)

Romancing the Duke, Tessa Dare (A romantic frolic with engaging characters, and enough substance to maintain interest. Just when you think it’s going right over the top, it doesn’t. If that make any sense. Steam rating: High.)

Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch (Wacky paranormal hijinks for Peter Grant in the English countryside. So, you know, par for the course, and enjoyable as the preceding books. Bonus points for this one for giving us some more insights into Nightingale, although the man himself doesn’t appear very often. And when am I going to get around to reading The Hanging Tree? It’s been in my to read stack for ages now...)

Indigo Slam, Robert Crais (Private eye novel featuring L.A. detective Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This time the guys are hired by some kids to find their father. Since it’s Elvis and Joe, of course things get way more complicated.

Property of a Lady, Sarah Rayne (Another ghost story/mystery, the first in a series featuring Oxford don Michael Flint and antiques dealer Nell West. The story revolves around a creepy old house, and there are some genuine chills as Michael and Nell investigate. Their primary means of investigating involves discovering hidden documents. That begins to strain credulity a bit, but I found I coud put up with it. I will probably read more, to see if something at the end of this one is followed up in a subsequent book, and to discover if we ever actually meet Michael’s cat, Wilberforce.)

Night of the Living Deed, E.J. Copperman (Another cozy, this time with ghosts.)

Borrower of the Night, Elizabeth Peters (The first Vicky Bliss novel, and a fun intro to her and her life. John won’t turn up until the next book but there are other romantic interests. Not to mention mysterious shennanigans in a creep old castle, some shivery moments, and a bit of history along the way.)

A Familiar Tail & By Familiar Means, Delia James (Another cozy cat mystery, this time with a pinch of witchcraft as well.)

Whiskey Beach, Nora Roberts (Suspense, romance, family ties, longer than it needed to be but someone I mind that less with Nora than some other authors. Steam rating: Moderate.)

Garden of Lies, Amanda Quick (One of the things I love about AQ books is that along with the romance, we usually get a murder mystery to solve, often with paranormal elements. Another thing is, that although she has some Regencies in her backlist, she’s staked out the Victorian Era as her primary time period. Nothing against Regencies but this reader does sometimes need a break from the ton and all that. Now AQ appears to be moving into the 20th century, which this reader also applauds. Bring on the Jazz Age, baby! Anyway, I liked this one and only wish it was the start of a series of Ursula and Slater mystery romances. Oh well… Steam rating: Moderate.)

Agatha Christie: They Came to Bagdhad; A Pocketful of Rye, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, Murder with Mirrors, 4:50 from Paddington (The first is one of her non-series novels, a fun thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, and also made me wish Dame Agatha had turned her hand to spy thrillers more. The rest are Miss Marple mysteries.)

Mary Stewart: This Rough Magic & Madam, Will You Talk? (This Rough Magic was a reread, and one that held up quite nicely. Young actress on holiday on Corfu, intrigue, romance, gorgeous scenery, and a charming dolphin. Madam, Will You Talk? is her first novel, but just as polished as the later ones. Young, war widowed teacher on holiday in France, brooding hero with dark past, gorgeous scenery, and even car chases. Why there aren’t a series of movies based on these books mystifies me.)

Those were the print books. Here are the ebooks that made a good impression:

Little Clock House on the Green, Eve Devon (Contemporary romantic comedy set in a quirky English village. My only complaint with this one is that certain reveals, re: the heroine’s motivations, took too long to come to light. It wasn’t a huge problem for me, though. The characters were good company. Steam level: practically Hallmark Channel.)

Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver (First book is the Amory Ames mystery, an homage to the Golden Age, and this one isn’t bonkers. Amory is at the Brightwell, a resort hotel, to help out an old friend--and one-time romantic partner--as well as evaluate the state of her marriage to husband Milo. And then of course there’s a murder. I went into this one expecting one thing to happen, re: Amory and the men in her life, and wound up rather nicely surprised at developments. The mystery was good too.

The Yankee Club, Michael Murphy (Another historical mystery. This time we’re in 1930s New York, with a private eye-turned-mystery writer back in town and getting involved in the murder of his former partner, reunited with his former girlfriend, now a Broadway star, and winding up hip deep in a conspiracy that threatens the very foundations of America. There’s some actual history to back that up, however, and it doesn’t play as over the top as it may sound. Like Design for Dying above, there are cameos by real life celebrities of the time like Cole Porter.)

Bed, Breakfast & Bones, Carolyn L. Dean (Young woman in need of a change moves to a small town on the West Coast, decided to revive the bed & breakfast, finds a body--the usual cozy formula. It’s played well here and I wouldn’t mind reading more books in the series.)

Southern Spirits, Angie Fox (This time our cozy heroine is struggling to keep her ancestral home, while she gets involved in a mystery and is assisted by both the local hunky sheriff and a ghost. I went in expecting nothing, and in fact anticipating to wind up deleting it, and wound up pleasantly surprised. An instance of: don’t judge a book by its cover.)

The Undateable, Sarah Title (Contemporary romantic comedy. A librarian finds herself part a meme that goes viral. This leads to a makeover and a quest to prove she is not the most undateable woman in San Francisco, and it is really way better than I’m making it sound. Promise. Steam level: practically Hallmark Channel.

Act Like It, Lucy Parker (Contemporary romantic comedy, set agains the background of the British theater world, and employing the fake dating trope. I loved it. Steam level: also moderate.)

Marriage is Murder, Emma Jameson (Historical mystery once more. England just before the War, and our doctor hero is sent to a small town in Cornwall, the same town his wife left behind her, and where secrets abound. They no sooner arrive than the wife is killed in a hit-and-run, and the husband left badly injured. Horrible accident or was it murder?)

There were other books–58, total–and many not listed here had their merits, but this batch were the ones that were the page turners, the don’t want to put it down and go to bed ones, the can’t wait to get back to it ones.

There were several books started and not finished; there were others started and put back the shelf to try another time. The latter, I think, is the better option. They may win me yet.

I have no reading agenda for 2018. Just more books, good books, and if I’m lucky one or two that surprise me by being so much better than they looked going in. Love when that happens.

[wineanddinosaur]

We Asked 10 Brewers: What’s the Most Underrated Brewery?

If you spend a lot of time on beer-related social media channels, you might believe only a handful of popular breweries and beers are worth pursuing. But there are a lot of brewers and breweries in the game — and the opinions of those in an industry often differ from those populating its message boards. That’s why we asked 10 brewers to share their expertise: What are the most underrated breweries in the game?

For the sake of clarity, we’re using the term “underrated” to denote brewers that have earned respect for their beers for their quality, prolificacy, and contributions to the beer world — even if they don’t get the same kind of love on the message boards.

“Final Gravity Brewing Co. hatched out of a homebrew shop, which opened in 2011, when Hardywood became the second brewery in the City of Richmond … While there are now almost 40 breweries in the Richmond region, with many gaining national attention, Final Gravity deserves recognition for brewing some truly world-class beers. The Doppler Effect is an exceptional IPA, and nearly all Final Gravity beers are crafted to remove gluten.” — Eric McKay, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

“One of my favorite places to drink beer is De Dolle Brewery in Esen, Belgium. Not that De Dolle is underrated, exactly, but I think they often fly under the radar. The brewery itself is in a remote part of West Flanders and is only open on the weekends, so it’s not the easiest spot to hit. On top of their fresh and delicious beer, Kris and Els, the husband-and-wife team that own it, are awesome people. The taproom at De Dolle is also something special. Thanks in part to Kris’s art on the walls, their taproom space has an authentic vibe that is really hard to replicate. And it’s almost always full of locals — from kids to great-grandparents. In my opinion, nobody traveling through Belgium should pass up a visit to De Dolle.” — Jason Perkins, Brewmaster, Allagash

“Our good friend Kyle Tavares at Mile Wide Brewing is doing some great things down in Louisville, Ky. Not only is he brewing some great hazy IPAs, but some great sours and traditional beers as well. Kyle is a Schlafly alum, and we couldn’t be more proud of the work that he’s doing. If you haven’t had a chance to get your hands on some Mile Wide beers, put them on your list. They’re all great.” — Stephen Hale, Founding Brewer, Schlafly

“I’m going to give a much-deserved shout out to my co-worker Ian Larkin. He was my assistant for three years at Bend Brewing Company before taking over when I moved to 10 Barrel. He is a very accomplished brewer in his own right, winning 11 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup in his time at Bend Brewing Company, which is the same amount I won during my stint there. Since his move to 10 Barrel, he has further won two medals in these very competitive large competitions. Because Ian likes to fly under the radar, he tends to be overshadowed by me and my accomplishments. We have very similar personalities and believe the devil is in the details, diligently plugging away at making a beer perfect regardless of how many brews it takes. Ian and I are an amazing team, creatively spurring and supporting each other to create polished, thought-provoking beers.” — Tonya Cornett, Brewer, 10 Barrel Brewing

“Free Range Brewing, Charlotte, N.C. … Often boasting the percentage of local ingredients in each beer, Free Range is the real deal, with a unique mainstay of a sourdough-starter yeast pitch, some very imaginative beers are pumped out of their warehouse. [Another one is] Little Fish Brewing, Athens, Ohio. Located on a beautiful greenway at the edge of a bustling college town, Little Fish has on-site gardens and a small hop yard where they grow some ingredients for their beers … Though their mixed-culture beers always have my attention, their clean beers are typically flawless as well. [And] Weathered Ground, Cool Ridge, W.V. Located in extremely rural West Virginia on a beautiful farm, Weathered Ground is the epitome of hard work and dedication to community. With few breweries in the entire state, Weathered Ground is on a mission to not only make awesome beer but to change an entire culture in the process.” — Todd Boera, Owner, Fonta Flora

“Allagash and Sierra Nevada for the way they have maintained excellence in all areas while being atop the industry. To be that good and produce that much beer is not ratable. OG and DGAF. St. Somewhere and Jolly Pumpkin. These guys have been making real farmhouse beers since about the time I could start drinking. Cambridge Brewing Co. and Austin Beer Garden Brewing … So many small pub models out there that have variety, classic styles, and atmosphere totally nailed without the hype. And if it’s not limited to American beer, I would put De Ranke and a whole slew of European modern classics in the center.” — Barry LaBendz, Owner, Kent Falls

“Ivan [Maldonado of 3 Punk Ales in Chula Vista, Calif.] has been a part of the San Diego/Tijuana scene for a while, putting his time at a number of breweries on both sides of the border and picking up knowledge in every stop he’s made. Now at 3 Punks, he’s turning out some killer lagers, (which are still somewhat of a rarity in SoCal), and making all-around stellar beers. Dude has a keen palate and is one of my go-to sources when I need another beer brain to bounce ideas off, or if I just need a Tijuana tour guide for the day … 3 Punks and Chula Vista definitely deserve more love thanks to Ivan.” — Jay Bullen, Brewmaster, Brewery Silvaticus

“The first is Metropolitan Brewing. In an age when lagers are being rediscovered by larger craft breweries as well as the more popular haze/pastry stout breweries, with varying degrees of success, Metro has been cranking out technically perfect German- style lagers for a decade. Heliostat, their zwickel lager, is easily one of my favorite beers in the world, but they don’t package it, which more or less means you have to come to Chicago and go to their beautiful taproom to experience it. And many do. And they never forget it. But that kind of perfect consistency doesn’t necessarily light up the message boards.

“Following in that same trend is Dovetail Brewing, who focus on using traditional brewing methods to make classic European styles and very quietly produce some of the best beer in town.” — Ben Ustick, Media Relations, Off Color

“Wayfinder is producing some of the best lagers on the planet … When I got into the industry over a decade ago, the idea that you could succeed as a lager-focused craft brewery was a, uh, relatively exotic one. Now, a brewery that’s pumping out world-class lagers can absolutely expect to develop a large and loyal fanbase, and Wayfinder definitely has, just within a very narrow geography. So if you’re visiting Portland, be sure to check them out and celebrate the fact that lagers are a major part of the current craft milieu.” — Jacob McKean, CEO and Founder, Modern Times

“While vast swaths of the beerscape have been preoccupied with ever less-inspired trends and gimmicks over the last decade to decade-plus, one brewery that comes to mind for just sticking with flawless classics is Unibroue. Emphasis on ‘flawless.’ I remember clearly my very first sip of Finny (or La Fin Du Monde, if you’re fancy) about 15 years ago. It was an eye-opener then, and it remains positively transcendent today. So, too, is the entirety of their distributed catalog. ‘Fermentation-forward’ doesn’t have to mean a beer is corrosively acidic or funkier than George Clinton’s backside, and Unibroue’s been proving it for nearly 30 years. Local is great, but great is great, too. If you’ve never had a Don de Dieu, stop ticking beers and go drink one.” — Marty Scott, Barrel Coordinator, Revolution Brewing

The article We Asked 10 Brewers: What’s the Most Underrated Brewery? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/10-best-underrated-breweries-2019/

[her-culture]

5 Women-Led Bands You Definitely Need to Listen To

We are a little over halfway through 2019, or as I like to call it, Twenty-Nine-Scene: the year of the emo revival. Whether you proudly continue to listen to My Chemical Romance six years after they broke up and can’t hear the G-note played on a piano without having a full-blown meltdown, or if you have no idea what band I’m talking about and are about to click away because this style of music may not be your taste, I urge you to wait just one more second! We’re about to dive deep into some badass bands led by female powerhouses that might just convince you to give the alternative music scene a chance.

Now, it’s no surprise that the music industry is mostly a boys’ club and this is (unfortunately) especially the case with rock music. However, things have begun to change as more and more women get involved in all aspects of the music world, which is totally amazing and also why I’m hyped to present this list of bands that have been taking the alternative scene by storm.

Eat Your Heart Out (Rock; Newcastle, Australia)

I discovered this band with the help of Spotify, and I am so glad that I found them! Founded in 2012 in Newcastle, Australia,  Eat Your Heart Out (EYHO) is classified as a rock band but has tons of pop influence in their style of writing. Their sound can be described as a mix of grunge realism, punk styling, and pop ambition that really makes them a strong act. Frontwoman Caitlin Henry writes heartfelt and incredibly raw lyrics that ooze with intensity and delivers them beautifully. If you’re a fan of Paramore, I highly recommend this band as they’re definitely inspired by Paramore’s music as well. 

Songs I Recommend:

“Drag Me Down”

“Shape of You” (Cover)

PVRIS (Electro-pop/Alt. Rock; Massachusetts)

Pronounced like “Paris”, which this band was originally named when they began in 2013 before ultimately changing it to avoid legal trouble with another band already named Paris––their name isn’t the only statement they make! This group is led by Lynn Gunn who is incredible. Not only is she a wicked talented vocalist, she’s also very vocal about LGBTQ+ rights. Lynn Gunn was the first queer-woman artist from the alternative scene that I listened to and seeing that kind of representation in music that I really love was a great feeling. Her band was also the first female-led band to be signed by the prominent rock label Rise Records. Their music can best be described as rock with mesmerising electronic elements that give them an almost hypnotic quality. I’ve been a big fan of theirs since their first album White Noise, and if you’re a fan of the band Chvrches, I really think you’ll like PVRIS too.

Songs I Recommend:

“St. Patrick”

“Chandelier” (Cover)

Misterwives (Indie-pop; NYC)

You may have heard this name before, especially since they popped up a lot on the radio after their tour with Panic! At the Disco in 2017. This band was founded in 2012 when the lead singer, Mandy Lee, wanted to form an 80’s cover band. Their early music definitely reflects this synth-like feel, but they’ve developed their sound to a much stronger indie vibe with a bit of pop sprinkled in. Mandy’s voice is airy and light, with a lovely and unique voice that juxtaposes well with her heavy, sentimental lyrics. Their songs can be incredibly moving and real but also something you can dance to.

Songs I Recommend:

“Revolution”

“whywhywhy”

Save Ferris (Ska/Punk-ish; Southern California)

Save Ferris is an iconic staple to the alternative music scene; they’ve been around since 1995 and are still killing it to this day. I’m a bit ashamed to say I barely found out about them this year when I attended the last-ever Vans Warped Tour, but I guess it’s better late than never! Their name is a reference to the cult-classic movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which should give you an idea of what vibe this band has. They’re all about having fun with excitable lyrics and an irresistible beat that ska is known to have that makes it impossible not to jump around and dance. If you’re new to ska, or have always been wary of it, Save Ferris is the perfect band to start off with. They’re funky, fun, and full of energy and I’m confident that they’ll make you google “How to play the trombone” when you’re done listening. Did I mention that they also do a killer cover of “Come On Eileen”? 

Songs I Recommend:

“Come On Eileen” (Cover)

“Anything”

The Aquadolls (Surf Rock/Indie; Southern California)

We’ve gotta end with a bang so I’ve saved my favorite band for last. The Aquadolls are a girl group full of attitude and “take no shit” energy, and their music has a captivating 90’s cool girl vibe to it that I’m a total sucker for. Originating from La Mirada, California, they’ve channeled the laid-back spirit that SoCal is known for with their approach to surf rock that gives them a dreamy feel while their lyrics are very in-your-face but still fun.They’re comprised of Melissa Brooks (singer), Jackie Proctor (drums), Keilah Nina (keys/bass), and Kate Rose (lead guitar). These badass women have been performing since 2012 and Brooks recently started her own record label in 2018 called Aqua Babe Records. I highly, highly recommend this band to everyone; trust me, they won’t disappoint.

 Songs I Recommend:

their entire discography 

seriously, go listen to them they’re on Spotify

especially their song “Troubled Valentine”

[rbeatz]

NGHTMRE – No Coming Down (feat. Alex Wiley & Sky Montique)

LOVING this new track, No Coming Down, from NGHTMRE, trying out a more electronic hip-hop/pop style than his regular heavy bass/trap EDM vibe. Alex Wiley and Sky Montique absolutely KILL it on the vocals. So much of a big soul with spacey sound on the Sky’s vocal hook with an authentic/real, down-to-earth contrast with Alex’s vocals. The background of the song has that NGHTMRE feel to it with a wide ambiance containing cinematic synths, big 808s, and a dynamic drum arrangement.

Alex Wiley was named Chicago’s “best kept secret” by Revolt TV. His fast paced vocals give that same angst those oscillating synths are giving during the verse. Sky Montique’s give me that nu-jazz/blues element I love hearing in hip-hop music these days (i.e. see Chance The Rapper). I love watching hardcore bass DJs take a more pop route. Skrillex, Jayceeoh, and now NGHTMRE. What makes a great bass producer are their heavy drums and dynamic drum arrangements, so bringing these elements into the pop world really gives an extra grit I think has been missing in a more soft around the corners pop industry.

NGHTMRE is releasing his new EP, NGHTMRE II, in December. No Coming Down is the 3rd song released from the 4 track EP.

This year, the LA based producer has proved himself in the studio and on stage, playing at such major festivals as Lollapalooza, Coachella, EDC Las Vegas, and his own Gud Vibrations Festival in SoCal with SLANDER. He is currently on his NGHTMRE Before Xmas tour. Catch his tour dates below and…

Click HERE to purchase tickets

  NGHTMRE‘s Upcoming Dates

11/22 – Royal Oak Music Theatre – Detroit, MI 11/24 – Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN 11/25 – Hakkasan – Las Vegas, NV 11/30 – Time – Costa Mesa, CA 12/01 – The Wilma – Missoula, MT 12/02 – Hakkasan – Las Vegas, NV 12/08 – Your Paradise – Nadi, Fiji 12/14 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA 12/15 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO 12/16 – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, CA 12/17 – Belly Up – Aspen, CO 12/20 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY 12/21 – Rams Head Live – Baltimore, MD 12/22 – House Of Blues – Boston, MA 12/23 – Terminal 5 – New York City, NY 12/29 – Lights All Night – Dallas, TX 12/29 – Resolution – Seattle, WA 12/30 – Lights All Night – Dallas, TX 12/31 – OMFG! NYE 2018 – San Diego, CA

from rBeatz Radio http://ift.tt/2zqtB0k

[minnievirizarry]

#NoTwoDays: A Day in the Life of Sergio Perez of Johnny Rockets

In the fourth installment of our new series, #NoTwoDays, we examine the day of fellow marketer Sergio Perez, Senior Digital Marketing Manager for international restaurant franchise Johnny Rockets.

Whether he’s meeting with franchise partners, building out a national digital strategy or solving the world’s burger problems, this is a (edited for clarity) day-in-the-life look through the lens of Johnny Rockets’ Senior Digital Marketing Manager.

MORNING:

5:30 a.m.: Rise and grind. I open my eyes and take a moment to recognize how lucky I am to have the opportunity to chase the dream and happiness, as hard as it gets. I find that starting the day with gratitude is great mental preparation to execute and engage in today’s busy world.

5:35 a.m.: The first case of #FOMO kicks in. Living on the west coast and working for a global restaurant chain that operates 400 restaurants in 32 countries, you realize that life and events have happened by the time you’re up.

As I scroll through my notifications, among the many thoughts that cross my mind are: Did I miss an important world event? Did sales improve over the previous week? What are people saying about Johnny Rockets? Was there another “covfefe” moment?

6:06 a.m.: I scroll through notifications on Sprout Social’s mobile app to get a first glimpse at what’s happening in the burger world. It comes in handy, as I’m responsible for overseeing over 200 local restaurant Facebook Pages, and all the global brand handles.

Making time to check in on people makes a difference.

Sergio Perez Sr. Digital Marketing Manager, Johnny Rockets @Sergeprz

6:30 a.m.: Breakfast time. Cup of coffee + one sunny side up egg + crispy thick-cut bacon + warm and buttery toast + glass of water + [insert any news channel in the background].

7:07 a.m.: Today is going be a hot one at the office: Busy between meetings, solving the world’s burger problems, pretending to be a burger on the social space and creating content for September. I decide to go with the casual side of business casual, opting to wear jeans, a button down, sneakers and a blazer.

7:45 a.m.: Time to head to the office. I have a 12-minute commute to the Burger HQ, aka The Johnny Rockets Group Restaurant Support Center.

7:58 a.m.: My first order of business is to spread positive vibes to our team. I walk by everyone’s office or cubicle and say good morning and check how they’re doing. Although only a brief gesture, making time to check in on people makes a difference.

It shows people you genuinely care about them and that you’re interested in their well-being. We’re a unified front, with a unified voice. That’s why at Johnny Rockets we live by the mantra of #OneTeamOneDream. We’re all in this together.

8:10 a.m.: Before I dive in, I select a solid playlist on Spotify to get in the zone. A mix of Drake, Luke Bryan, J Balvin, Jay-Z and Calvin Harris is in order.

8:15 a.m.: This is when I get into character and pretend to be a burger online. I start by tracking the global conversation happening around Johnny Rockets. I use Sprout Social’s Smart Inbox to identify conversations that I can engage with. At the same time, I look for any guest related issues that we need to address and resolve.

Guests often times come to social media platforms to comment on their experiences with our food and service. As a guest-driven brand, we’re committed to responding to these issues, and most importantly committed to solving these and earning their trust back. At Johnny Rockets, every guest matters, and we want to ensure every single one of them has a memorable burger experience.

9:00 a.m.: Meeting with the field marketing team to review local digital plans for franchise partners. The goal is to support the national digital strategy with tailored local plans that focus on driving incremental transactions. I won’t give you the secret recipe, but we focus on delivering the right message at the right time through the right platform.

In the restaurant industry, it’s imperative that you create craveable moments that add value, spark emotion and inspire action.

9:30 a.m.: Meeting with the agency to walk through the upcoming grand opening plans. On the digital side, we focus on inspiring burger fans to take action through brand, culture and food offerings.

We do everything from paid social ads, like campaigns, Snapchat filters and email campaigns to build relationships around the communities in which we serve. This year we are on track to open more than 50 restaurants worldwide.

10:00 a.m.: Another meeting with the team to review content concepts for the month of September. We look at upcoming food-related holidays, system-wide promos, new menu items, brand partnerships, new restaurant openings and sales-driving menu items, among other topics.

These sessions are particularly helpful because it ensures that our content aligns with our brand voice, our brand, our business objectives and storytelling pillars.

11:15 a.m.: Almost six hours into the day, it’s time for a pick me up. Two shots of espresso and a splash of half and half, a quick glance at my personal phone to avoid #FOMO, and off we go.

11:25 a.m.: An unexpected call from a company trying to pitch their services. Just like any relationship, I think it’s important to be honest and transparent in these conversations.

If you’re not interested in [insert any product or service], make sure you answer and share why—it’s the right thing to do. Everyone wants to be heard.

11:45 a.m.: Last call before lunch. A franchise partner wants a local piece of content published on their Facebook page. As part of our process, I review the content to ensure it meets brand guidelines. I log on to Sprout Social to schedule it for a later day and time. As you can imagine, with over 200 domestic restaurants, I get requests like this all the time.

AFTERNOON:

12:15 p.m.: Our rockstar in-house graphic designer and I are heading to our flagship Johnny Rockets restaurant, in Orange, CA, to shoot some content for September.

12:22 p.m.: We are stuck in traffic in the deathly hallows, aka the I-5. Those who have been to California know how soul crushing, and at times stressful, this highway can be. Rule of thumb, breathe in and breathe out.

1:04 p.m.: We arrive at the restaurant, pick a table and order lunch. My go-to meal is the Smoke House Burger, paired with a Chocolate Banana Shake. Seriously, this is what dreams are made of. While we grub, we talk through the shot list and we coordinate with the kitchen to bring out food in that order.

1:52 p.m.: Post-lunch, we set up in the far end of the restaurant to shoot. We pick this place to ensure minimal disturbance of service and operations.

2:00–5:30 p.m.: Armed with an iPhone 7+, some food styling skills and a desire to capture beautiful burger imagery, we make our way through the shot list. In order to tell the right story, it’s important to find the right composition, the right angle, the right lighting and the right time to take a photo. But truth be told, sometimes you just have to let food and every ingredient do the work.

In the restaurant industry, it’s imperative that you create craveable moments that add value, spark emotion, inspire action and/or drive people into restaurants. It’s just as important to put yourself in people’s shoes as they are making food decisions. What burger moments will get mouths watering as they travel through their daily hunger journey?

EVENING:

5:45 p.m.: Clean up. Pick up. Before we leave the restaurant. We make sure we extend our deepest gratitude to the restaurant team. They’re the real MVPs. They make invaluable contributions to the brand.

6:00 p.m.: I like to end long and busy days with a bit of Southern California. I head over to Pacific City in Huntington Beach. As I make my way via Uber, I check emails to make sure I’m caught up. This time I decide to shower burger fans that share their burger moments via #JohnnyRockets with likes and comments.

It warms my heart to see pictures of families with their kids enjoying a burger, couples on a date sharing a shake, a group of friends refueling after a long day in class or those burger loyalists that share mouthwatering burger pictures with us. Moments like these remind me how special our guests and fans are.

6:17 p.m.: The group decides to live up to the SoCal lifestyle. Fish tacos, margaritas and an ocean front view.

7:00 p.m.: We take a walk down to the beach. Shoes off, sand in feet, the breeze hitting your face and the last rays of sun for the day. It’s absolutely amazing and, in my opinion, the best way to unwind after a long day at the office.

8:45 p.m.: Eleven hours later, I’m finally home.

9:00 p.m.: I start my nightly routine:

Read one chapter of a book. This month I’m reading, “The Captain Class” by Sam Walker. It’s a book about “the hidden force that creates the world’s greatest teams.” As a student of life, I feel it’s important to constantly find ways to learn, get better and feel inspired and empowered.

Catch an episode of a series on Netflix. This month I’m re-watching two great shows: House of Cards and The Office. I think everyone needs a bit of Frank Underwood and Michael Scott in their life.

11:00 p.m.: One last look at email and Sprout to make sure all things social and digital in the burger space are in check.

11:45 p.m.: Time for bed. I like to end my day just like I start my day, with some gratitude. I realize how lucky I am to have the opportunity to do what I love along with a fine group of men and women, but most importantly to have a roof over my head and a plate of food every day. Over and out.

This post #NoTwoDays: A Day in the Life of Sergio Perez of Johnny Rockets originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/no-two-days-sergio-perez/