Friday 6-Pack...

So many great new jams this week! We have some new Saves the Day, The Menzingers, Roger Harvey, and more! Check it out!

Music Saves. 

Listen, enjoy, and share! 

-YourFriendMatt

Make like a tree...

“Great Scott!” - Me.

We were out for a routine work luncheon. You know, the one’s full of awkward silences and half-jokes reaching for any topic of discussion like, “Man, look at that over there!” just to point at something random and hope anyone has a story about what you are pointing at. I’m good at awkward adulting.

We made our way back to work in our rental car and were looking for a spot to park. I heard a faint “Is that the car from Back to the Future” come from the back seat and my BTTF senses started tingling. Like, why the heck would the DeLorean be parked in a random spot in the mid-west…but, boom…there it was. Just parked in a random spot close to the entrance. I, being a huge BTTF fan, jumped out of our slow-moving SUV to immediately start inspecting the craftsmanship...and to snap a few selfies.

As it turns out, I had seen this exact DeLorean Time Machine a few years back at the Philadelphia Comic-Con. The team over at ToTheFuture.org have taken the DeLorean (that they built!) across all 50 states (including Hawaii) to raise awareness for Parkinsons. I never thought I would see it in the wild just driving around, but today was my lucky day. If you get a chance, check out the site, check them out at an event or donate whatever you have. I had the chance to chat with them today and they are good people with a great cause. It amazes me that they know more about BTTF than I do!

…Flux Capacitor…Fluxing…

Check out this quick video of us donating funds! If you drop any donation in Mr. Fusion talks to you!

-YourFriendMatt

We're Moving...Again!

The time has come for us to wave goodbye to the clear sunny skies, incredible views and warm beach-bum days of California. We are very excited to announce that I accepted a promotion to Nashville, TN and we look forward to what is ahead. We could not be more thrilled to take our next steps in our adventure together. We have learned many lessons over the last few years in Santa Monica. We have had weeks living off ramen and air (and thank God the air was free), and we have also lived like kings adventuring up and down the coast. We went through 3 cars, adopted two dogs and ate more burritos that we would like to admit. 

We have made lifelong friendships that will continue until I am an old man. And, to me that is priceless. Over the last few years, we have become honorary citizens at Disneyland and if we stayed just a few more years I would be running for Mayor there. I was lucky enough to play and create music with some amazing people all over the city and got to sit where my idols sat playing drums. It has been surreal. I saw Saves the Day play “Through Being Cool” in its entirety and chatted with Dan Aykroyd about how he thought I hit drums really hard. Yes, a ghostbusting, Blues Brother saw me play drums (life goal achieved). Jamie and I have seen Justin Beiber on a hover board on Sunset Blvd and Tim Robbins asked to use my phone because his died. “Here you go Mr. Dufresne.” We even got to see Back to the Future at the Hollywood Bowl on Back to the Future Day. 

I got to go to Namm; Jamie went through a career change, and Adam Sandler and his mom hung out with us fishing off the Malibu pier one day. We got to see the Phillies beat the Dodgers, survived quakes, saw Stars Wars and I joined a soft ball league just for the free beer. I got stuck in LAX for two days, made in on The People’s Court on my lunch hour and drove to Vegas one time to shoot a short with friends. 

We have celebrated birthdays, ups, downs, b-sides and made it out just fine. Reflecting this morning is very bittersweet. We did not plan too, but we may have laid some roots here, this was never permanent. I can not wait to take the next step in our lives together. The memories we have created with such great people in our time in California have changed our lives forever.

California - Thanks for keeping us safe. Keep the traffic and I’ll see you soon.

-YourFriendMatt

Year 2...

"Holy shit, I moved across the country 2 years ago today." - Me.

This week, 2 years ago, Jamie and I woke up to what would be any other typical sunny California morning to an empty apartment. Except on this morning we could not have felt more out of place. We slept on a air mattress, had no idea where anything was and the pressure of getting it figured out quickly was upon us. What else were we do to do? Go get coffee.

This was the first photo I took as a Santa Monica citizen...

From there we decided to go max out my credit card on buying a bed and max out her Target card buying all the stupid shit you need for a home...such as tupperware, bath room rugs, extension cords, cleaning supplies etc. Such a bummer to see how much all it cost and realize you are an adult. There was nothing fun on this receipt...but I do love having tupperware for left overs.

But, that was year one. This year was all about figuring out who we are and exploring our surrounding. We kicked the year off celebrating with friends and getting too drunk to remember! We drove up the coast to San Fransisco and it took forever! Someone broke in, I got promoted and we saw the Phillies lose to the Dodgers. I got stuck in the airport for 2 days, we found Randy’s donuts and stayed in an airstream in the middle of Malibu.

I was able to start recording with bands and play shows in historic venues like Whiskey A Go-Go, The Mint and The Viper Room. We found Marty McFly’s house and hung out at the Pawnee Municipal building…its in Pasadena…not Indiana. We became Disneyland Passholders and have gone as often as possible…celebrating most holidays and birthdays there. I even spent Back to the Future day there and then watched all three movies back to back. 

We have explored museums, found Santa Barbara and Laguna Beach. We almost died on a mountain and found some of our favorite restaurants. We were able to catch Back to the Future on the big screen at The Hollywood Bowl with a full orchestra. My mom and sister came for a visit and Jamie and Liv got piercings in Venice…that then got infected and neither of them currently have them in. Met Travis Barker our from of their show at the Roxy. I was able to shoot a music video with a band and I even got to see The Movielife in Ponoma for their reunion show. 

We have made a lot of memories this year, while experiencing the up’s, downs and b-sides of what life has to offer. I look forward to seeing where we are next year…and how many more memories we can make.

-YourFriendMatt

Playlist Friday...BTTF Style...

In honor of one of the greatest trilogies of all time here is this weeks playlist, curated by me! October 21, 2015 may have come and gone but the adventure continues. Play this while your sitting in traffic today and watch as you imagination runs wild...and you forget your sitting for 2 and half hours trying to go 10 miles on the 405. Happy weekend everyone!

Thank you BTTF...

Holy crap. It 4:29pm on October 21, 2105, Marty is here somewhere and now I live in California...if I could only actually find Hill Valley, CA...

October 21, 2015 actually happened. And...I am 28, without a hoverboard, Mr. Fusion on my Ford Focus or self tying laces on my Nike's...that I can't afford. My child self would be so disappointed...shit, who am I kidding, I AM disappointed.

Regardless...

From a thanksgiving dinner...yes, not a halloween dinner...thanksgiving...

Back to the Future,

Thank you for being awesome and for having such a huge impact on my life. From the time I saw Marty crank that amp when I was 5 and get blown across the room, I knew I wanted to play music...and never lose my imagination. You are always there for me on TBS on a cold fall day when I felt sick and did not want to leave the couch. You taught me to make wise decisions, stand up for what I believe in and although being called a chicken does suck...that it really doesn't matter in the end.

You have provided me with guidance and years of repeated entertainment. This day might come and go, but it does not end the adventure for me.

Thank you for everything, I look forward to seeing you soon and I will always remember, if Flea asks me to go along with a plan...I won't.

-Matt

This one is on us...

Jamie and I were sitting at the bar enjoying our time off together when I heard "Hey, can I buy you a drink?" I turned to see a petite girl standing there. 

Another great night of playing music was in the books. We played the Santa Monica pier overlooking the beach, waves and Malibu. We had finished our set and were done loading out our gear. Everyone was heading their separate ways as the night winded down. I still had an open tab at the bar so Jamie and I decided to stay for a drink before we headed home. While we sat to watched the next band finishing our drinks a red-lipped, 20-something bar-girl approached us and asked to buy us drinks. "Hell yeah!" I said without skipping a beat. Jamie looked confused and the girl picked up on it. "I work for Bud Light and we are out sponsoring a new promotion. You guys look adorable so enjoy!" And she scampered away as fast as she had appeared. I, already perusing the beer list, found myself an IPA and Jamie shrugged and ordered a Bud Light. 

We finished the drinks and we were about to close out to head home. Bud Light girl reappeared again like a beer-fairy-god-mother. "One more on us for these two!" She said and handed us free coozies and blue, Bud Light sunglasses. "One thing though, can we get a picture of you two and possibly ask you a question?" She asked as I replied with, "If you're buying I'll tell you whatever you want!" Throwing on the sunglasses and striking a pose for their camera guy. As it turns out I guess they are running a promotion for summer bucket lists and wanted to know if there was anything crazy that we wanted to accomplish before the end of the summer. “Damn.” I replied “You going to be here for a while? I will need to think about this.” My mind exploding with options of insane things I could do with Bud Lights money funding it.

Buzzed Summer Bucket List Bar Brain Storming Session:

• Play drums with Motley Crue and then convince them to let me join the band.
• Skydive with Jay and Silent Bob.
• Fly Jamie and I’s family out for an all expense paid trip to Disneyland.
• Go to space.
• Lunch with Mel Brooks.
• Lunch with Dave Grohl
• Lunch with the cast of Can’t Hardly Wait.
• Lunch with Hall and Oates.
• Lunch with Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox discussing their lives and then go play bass for Blink 182 at an arena…where they ultimately ask me to join the band.

My drunken brain went with the last option, as I thought this was the most feasible, as we ran to find the Bud Light girl. They did a video recording of my wish on some tablet and submitted it to their database. “Yes. Score. Totally having lunch with Dr. Emmett L. Brown.” I whispered and we staggered away feeling victorious.

Remember, if someone asks to pick up your bar tab, always let them.

I wonder if that tablet video is online somewhere?

-YourFriendMatt