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

Friday 6-Pack...

Friday! Friday! Friday! This week’s alternative-rock 6-pack playlist brings us new tracks from Super American, The Flats, Eyes Eat Suns, and Mom Jeans. It' feels like the 90’s are back, and I am okay with that. We also have some faster-paced punk-rock singles from The Home Team and Single Mothers. Check it out!

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Van Renovation: Chapter 3...

“We are converting the back of the van into a bedroom, how hard can it be?” - Me.

We recently got the idea to reupholster and redesign the back of our van to turn it into a cozy little bedroom. The back bench already folds down flat into what could be a full bed. If we could figure out a way to make the rest of the area comfy we can have a mobile bedroom on wheels. 

The anatomy and design of the Volkswagen Vanagon are pretty interesting. The engine is in the back, the battery is under the passenger side captain chair, the spare tire is under the back seat and you check the oil dipstick behind the license plate. It’s been fun to figure out how to configure a routine maintenance plan. It is very different from popping the hood on most American cars and having everything in one spot.

After some quick internet searching, planning, and shopping around for the right comfy cushion for us, we found a peice of memory foam that fit our budget. Most upholstery manufactures and local shops charge triple the amount of what a piece of memory foam cost, it is a weird niche market. After we did some research we felt pretty sure we could do this ourselves. We landed on making our own mattress for our van. Armed with our simple memory foam mat, we made some measurement plans, and were on our way. 

Crude, but it worked...

To reinforce our DIY van bedding, we purchased a piece of plywood from our local hardware store. I traced the floor plan on some taped together paper shopping bags (unusual, but worked. Use what you got!). This floor plan template was easy and helped me align both the foam and plywood so they would match perfectly. Work smarter, not harder.

Once we had everything cut to size it was just a matter of making it all look pretty. 

Pretty easy project to make any Vanagon or adventure mobile even more comfortable!

Finished Product...time for the beach...

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

Happy Friday! This week's 6-Pack is riddled with new grooves, including singles by Boston Manor, Drug Church, and Better Off. We also have some new tracks from the newest addition to Hopeless Records, Stand Atlantic, a weird one from Graduating Life, and a fast-paced, pop-punk single from Midfield.

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

Happy Friday and I hope your week went well! We have some new Alkaline Trio, WSTR, and The Story So Far to help kick off your Labor Day Weekend! We also have some new Divided Heaven, Roseview, and Young Culture. Most of this week's music is all new to me and I am pleasantly surprised! Check it out!

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Eight Years...

Jamie,

I love how we both forgot we have been dating for eight years. Classic us. Whoops.

Happy eight years!

Thank you for always supporting me and putting up with my shit. I know I am not the easiest to get along with. I know I am stubborn. I know I can be unrealistic. I know I can be a total friggin’ prick. I am working on it. I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. I have no idea where I would be if I did not have you by my side through all the messes I've made over the last few years. You have consistently pushed me to do better and coddled me when I have failed (miserably). Your constant love and support fuel me to be a better person. I can’t imagine going through what we have been through with anyone else.

I love you, and I can’t wait to be your husband.

-Matt

PS - We are out of peanut butter - we need to go food shopping.

Friday 6-Pack...

Happy Friday! This weeks playlist is a story. It starts off poppy with some new tracks from With Confidence & Crooked Teeth,  slows down with The Story So Far & Youth Fountain, and ends with some metal singles from Counterparts & Quiet Fear.

It’s been an odd week but these songs capture it pretty well! 

Music Saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack... →

Marfa, TX - 2017 - Shot on iPhone

This week we have a list that does not discriminate, it’s a bit all over the place, but go with it, trust me. We have new Saves the Day, Terror, and mewithoutYou! We also have some new tracks from pop-punk and rock bands Youth Fountain, The Run Up, and Abandoned By Bears! Happy Friday!

Music Saves. 

Listen, enjoy, and share! 

-YourFriendMatt

Van Renovation: Chapter 2...

"What do you think I should do with these holes in the van floor? We can see the road as we drive." - Me.

After ripping out the seats in our VW Vanagon, it was time to figure out what we were going to do with the empty-space the seat removal had opened up. Put a shag rug in and hang a disco ball? Add captains chairs or turn the seat around so everyone sitting back there can face each other? Leave and never come back to it because renovating anything is a pain in the ass? None of those options seemed right, so we went to Home Depot for some inspiration.

"You always grab a cart! It's a rule!" - Unknown

We finally landed on putting in hardwood flooring, like the kind you would put in your living room. We figured if it was good enough for a living room, it sure-as-shit was good enough for our Vanagon. We did some quick internet searching, and it did not look too hard. We measured and modified our plan, bought some materials and were on our way to put a new floor in our VW.

"Always look for good looking and cost effective solutions." - Unknown

We started by ripping out all the 30+-year-old, stained, shitty existing rug. Ripping up this shit-stained monstrosity felt like ripping up a large piece of beef jerky. The rug had lost all flexibility and covered 30-year-old stain-circles of god-knows-what spilled from years past. Once we had it all out, we had to sanitize the metal flooring, seal the holes where the seat had been bolted down so we could no longer see the road from inside the van, and installed some thick carpet cushion. Once we had that done, it was like playing building blocks. The flooring we got snaps together like Legos, it is a great solution for anyone doing a flooring remodel of any kind. We had to use our handy-dandy Ryobi jigsaw for this and cutting around vents and seats. It is worth it to take your time during this process, measure twice and cut once, patience is a virtue.

"Dangerously under-qualified" - We had to removed the door seam to get the carpet out.

"Where does this piece go?" - We had to remove a panel to ensure we coved the entire floor - super easy to put back on, it just snaps into place.

"Always clean up after you removed 30 year old carpet." - Einstien

Got some good carpet padding and filled in the rest with bubble wrap to create a soft and even base for the floor.

Measure twice - cut once. Had a few handy dandy tools to make light work of this project. Invest in a level, measuring tape, rubber mallet, and a good blade for your cuts. Then just put the panel back and screw down the door seam and you are good to go!

This whole process only took about 2 hours and added a ton of value. Customizing and getting creative with your van renovations is a huge part of what draws us to owning our van. Now we have space for all kinds of activities! 

We have a bunch more plans and ideas lined up so stay tuned!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

It’s a hot Friday in LA, stay cool out there. This week's list brings us six new tracks that I can’t stop listening too, Dave Grohl is a unicorn. He has just released a 23-minute track entitled 'Play', all recorded himself and there is a documentary to go along with it. You must check it out. We also have a new poppy one from Dashboard, Alkaline Trio, With Confidence and more! 

Music saves.

Listen, share, and enjoy.

-YourFriendMatt

The Graduate...

“Well, that’s done. I graduated from college. What’s for dinner?” - Me.

It took me a while, but I finally did it. I graduated from college. It was awful. I have no idea how I did it. I have no idea where I found the time, or how I found the energy, but it is done. I feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment knowing I finished something I started over a decade ago. If I would have stayed in school all those years I would be a doctor by now, but whatever.

I am a walking billboard for adult learners. I am that commercial of a person sitting up in bed while everyone else sleeps typing away on an essay, finishing homework on the bus ride into work, or taking my lunch break to complete a math problem while trying not to get sandwich crumbs on my MacBook Pro. I did all these things, and although I thought it was terrible at the time, I look back and am proud of the determination I had to get this damn diploma. I have no idea if it will impact or improve my quality of life, but this was a personal goal to get my degree, so I got it.

Over the last two years, while I was in school, I also worked my but off at work and was offered a promotion. During this time I had been dancing the line of work-life balance for 20+ direct reports. Not an easy task when you have a final due every few weeks. We bought a home in Nashville, TN. We moved across the country twice, and we got engaged. And somehow during all of that, I still found time to accomplish my academics. If I can do this, anyone can. I know, I may sound like I am patting myself on the back, but I don’t care, this is my story. I know a million other people have done this, and good for them. Going back to school was rough, but at the same time, it was rewarding. I am proud, let me have my moment.

On a recent call with my soon to be mother-in-law, I vented to her about how I just wanted to drop out. She listened to my complaints and then told me, “You are in your last class, it’s almost over, and when it’s done you’ll be glad you started this two years ago instead of today.” These words stood out to me because every accomplishment starts today. While I was in school, I did not tell anyone; this was a personal quest to prove to myself I could do it. In two years, whatever you start today could be accomplished. Are you going to get started right now? Or, are you going to wait another two years and say to yourself “Next year I will get to that” or “This Saturday I’ll start.” We all know we are full of shit when we say that, so get started on whatever goal you have now, you’ll be glad you did.

What will you get started today?

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

Happy Friday! This week's alternative-rock 6-Pack playlist includes new tracks from Koji, Ducking Punches, and a long-awaited single from Hellogoodbye! We also have some new selctions from Subways On The Sun, With Age, and Times Like These. Enjoy, dance and share! 

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

I literally can’t stop listening to Real Friends or Save Face. Both of their new albums have been on repeat on my headphones since their releases. Enjoy the cuts on this week's playlist and I highly recommend checking out both their albums immediately. We also have new Like Pacific, Elder Brother, Oh, Weatherly, and a brutal one from the almighty, Counterparts. 

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Van Renovation: Chapter 1

"I mean, how hard could it be to rip a few van seats out?" - Me.

Right after we moved back to Santa Monica we knew we had to get our VW Vanagon back. We had one before the last time we lived here and missed the days of cruising in the van on the PCH, stopping to pull over if we found a cool beach area, and just hanging out in the van. We scoured Craiglist, local ad’s, and Facebook marketplace for a few weeks until we finally found one worth checking out. According to our mechanic, the engine seemed good, the body was in great shape, and besides a few minor upgrades, we found our van. Now, it is up to us to make it ours.

One of the first this we wanted to do is rip out the center, bench seats to create more space for activities. I will have more updates as the van renovation process goes, but here is a quick video of me, with no knowledge of how to do this, doing my best to remove the seats.

Enjoy and comment below! I'd love to hear from you!

-YourFriendMatt

Groom...

"Dude, I have no idea what I am doing. What the hell is a Notch Lapel?" - Me.

Thank the gods for The Black Tux. They have put me at ease with this whole tux and groom thing. As a groom, I have no idea what I am doing. All I know is I want to look and feel as cool as James Bond when we get married. It's my wedding day. I deserve to look dope. I know this will probably sound odd, but I dread picking out clothing, trying stuff on, and trying to figure out what "look" I am going for. I just want to look cool, and I know Jamie wants me to look cool too.

Jamie and I made our way to their fitting room in Santa Monica about a month ago. We have tried at home try-on kit, but it did not feel right. All my groomsmen live across the country; it is not like we can all meet up one afternoon to get fitted for my wedding. I needed a solution that would work for everyone. There was no stress when we walked in, and everything was ready for me when I got there based on the profile I set up online. The future is awesome.

After trying on a few suits and tuxes, Jamie and I decided on a classic and simple look. I feel great in what we picked out. The tux is so fancy and well crafted; and for a dude who wears nothing else but band tee shirts, Vans, and denim, this is a significant upgrade. I am a pretty easy customer, but this experience made me feel like a million bucks.

Friday 6-Pack...

It’s Friday! It's hot out! But, that doesn’t stop the jams. Here are some new tracks that have been the soundtrack this weeks heat wave including Living with Lions, Mayday Parade, Odd Robot and more! Check it out!

Music Saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

It's Friday, and that means new music! This week we have a new track from Australian pop-punkers, Trophy Eyes, a pop-driven one from White Denim, and a rocker from Mom Jeans. I never liked Trophy Eyes, but the two new tracks they have on pre-release on Apple Music are catchy with just enough grit to still be tough. I would suggest giving them a listen.  White Denim's new single 'It Might Get Dark' offers a pop-country feel to their alternative vibe; it's a great Friday song to crack open a cheap, light beer too. Mom Jeans always brings the feels. Their new track 'Sponsor Me Tape' gets to the point. Their lyrics always tell a story and do not leave much open to interpretation, which I enjoy.

We also have a new track from one of my hometown heroes The Menzingers, a slower country track from the newly formed (potential Anthony Green and friends group), Found Wild, and Homesafe.

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Pixar Pier...

"I think I am going to throw up." - Me.

(After multiple rides on Incredicoaster, Space Mountain, and Guardians of the Galaxy)

Jamie and I are Disney junkies so it would only make sense that we planned our mini-staycation this weekend around the grand opening of Disneyland's newly renovated slice of California Adventure, Pixar Pier. Admittedly, a lot has stayed the same, it is more of a facelift than anything else but that does not take away from the incredible (pun intended) upgrades that this side of the park has gone through. The biggest change is the reimagined roller coaster that fits snuggly against the parks outer rim, Incredicoaster.

Incredicoaster is a redesigned ride that follows the Incredible family on an adventure as they try to keep up with their incredibly powered baby boy, Jack-Jack. Pixar Pier boasts new food stands, shops, and one of my personal favorites - an outside bar on the water, Lamplight Lounge. The Lamplight Lounge has been one of our favorites since we have been pass holders when it was called Cove Bar. The views of the California Adventure are phenomenal, the drinks are delicious, and the people watching is to die for. 

Disney seems to be doing a lot of renovations to California Adventure. Recently the park closed down the beloved Tower of Terror to replace it with an updated ride inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy. It makes me wonder how soon they will rip out Bugs Land and replace it with something more relevant!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

It’s Friday and I am free as a bird. We have some new We The Kings, Muncie Girls, and Restorations!  This weeks list is a little all over the place, but sometimes that the way life is. This week marks the start of the last Vans Warped Tour, and although I am not able to attend I did look through the lineup. I was a little unimpressed. I figured the team would try to pull out all the stops and get some old heavy hitters like Blink 182, Descendents, or even try to get bands back together to play a few songs, but that is not looking like the case. 

I did see that We The Kings was scheduled to play and found out they are still putting out music, and honestly, it still holds up. Their new single 'On My Love' delivers the catchy, pop-punk choruses we would come to expect from the band. Muncie Girls and Restorations have quickly become some of my favorites over the last few years and I am glad to see they are thriving. We also have tracks from Never Home, a raw one from Roseview, and a trippy one from another one of my longtime favorites and my hometown heroes, Vacationer! Check it out on Apple Music!

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Pops...

Dad,

Thanks. I can not thank you enough for your constant support and for making me feel like I can accomplish anything. Thanks for allowing us always to play music as loud as we wanted. The continuous noise would have driven me insane, but you told us to keep playing. You have taught me that I should not take all things too seriously, to live in the moment. Thanks for providing the tools and knowledge that have allowed me to make things happen. Thanks for showing me that I needed to work hard for anything in life. This drive is something that has shaped who I am and has helped me get around the world. You are not perfect, but I know you always gave it your best shot, even when you had no idea what you were doing. Thanks for showing me compassion, peace, and love.

I love you, man.

-Matt