• When the stage goes dark

    June 13, 2020 - By 

    Performing musicians across the globe are suffering greatly amidst the COVID19 pandemic. Live shows may not look the same for a very long time. While the rest of the world begins to slowly re-open, musicians’ very art form and profession are in question with no certainty in sight. What began several months ago as worry about show cancellations has now become a deep and punishing sadness. We are confronting the absence of a large piece of our identity and way of life that we still can’t quite fathom, much less know how to handle. I hope this article will both…

  • Most right, right now

    June 17, 2019 - By 

    I wrote the original version of this post via voice-to-text on my drive home from a special evening seeing a new friend perform south of Nashville. (See more here on accommodating creativity.) On this drive, a warmth is over me that I haven’t felt in awhile. Like a hand on my shoulder. The warmth offered by a couple of life cues that tell you you’re going in the right direction, even though you may have no idea what lies ahead. There’s been a noticeable LACK of this feeling in my first few weeks of quiet time at home. (This post…

  • NASHVILLE | Locals’ List

    April 7, 2018 - By 

    These aren’t the “Top 10 places to visit in Nashville.” These are the spots the locals love: Fido: My favorite brunch eats. Creative specials daily and refill-yourself coffee. I spend full work-days here! The Station Inn: Center of Nash’s down-home bluegrass scene. You might sit next to a grammy-winner. Lightning 100.1FM: Nashville’s independent radio. Life changed when I discovered this gem! Marche: My other top brunch spot. Great ambience and friendly staff. Musician’s Hall of Fame: I haven’t been, but I’ve heard it’s a fun visit for musicians, specifically. Turnip Truck: Nashville’s local “Whole Foods.” All your organic staples and good…

  • NASHVILLE | Commit and Enjoy

    April 2, 2018 - By 

    Brilliant photographer Sean Fisher and I chose the coldest day of the year for this photo shoot, and to explore the Tennessee beauty outside the city. Sean is a driven and inspirational artist who I’m lucky to call a friend! (www.fisherai.com) He’s also one of my favorite IG follows: @mr.bootstraps The pictures turned out beautifully thanks to Sean, but the story of that particular day is hysterically bad. I woke up at 5am in a fit of stress about the amount that needed to be done as The Moxie Strings finished booking our summer months. I watched in annoyance as the…

  • Use Routines to Reduce Travel Stress

    March 29, 2018 - By 

    Handling uncertainty has been one of the hardest but most necessary skills in this travel life. I face uncertainty daily in schedule, sleep patterns, paychecks, band dynamics, meal times, etc. For that, I look for consistency anywhere I can. Routines and familiarity are key. Here are some of my daily tricks: Start your day the same way. Your mind and body will be able to handle far more travel uncertainties if you feed it some consistency in the morning. Plus, it just feels good. Self-care is key! My morning: Something physical (stretching/physical therapy/workout), a cold shower, and a little time enjoying…

  • Nashville | Wait for Option C

    March 26, 2018 - By 

           Hello from Music City. As a fiddle player I’ve always been curious about the Nash scene, but also pretty resistant to what I thought was a cut-throat and highly competitive town. I just didn’t feel the need to throw myself in the shark tank. I’ve had the chance to visit a few times over the past year, and I’m incredibly lucky to have been shown a side of this town that completely changed my mind. Don’t fret, (heh) music row is as glitzy and industry-driven as you’d hope, complete with large-scale honky tonks, label execs, and celebrity-sightings. (Your Nashville vacay…