Fashion Dave’s bachelor party was last night and was a totally great evening. We had dinner at the rustic Saddle Peak Lodge. I had Elk for the first time and it might be my new favorite food. You can view photos of the dinner here.

Also two weekends ago I got to visit one of my best pals, Banker Jeff, in Nashville. Jeff and I visit a different NFL stadium each year and this season it was time for the Titans. I hadn’t been back to Nashville since leaving college so it was a wild, memory flooding trip. Got to see some old haunts as well as visit what’s left of Johnny Cash’s home. You can view photos of the trip here.

Jerry Reed died yesterday. He was 71. In terms of music, it seems most people have certain artists or bands they can attach to different time periods in their lives. I may have had a few musical chapters through my years (Johnny Cash, The Velvet Underground, Boards of Canada), but I’ve only had two legitimate novels. Artists that slam you in the face and literally alter your life. My entire college experience/time in Nashville was about Morrissey. My post-college/coming into your own years/Los Angeles time was about Jerry Reed.

In December of ‘02 I bought my first Jerry Reed CD, Country Legends, on a whim at a mom and pop country music store hidden in an outlet mall in a snowed over Wentzville, MO. I knew “East Bound And Down” from being a huge fan of Smokey and the Bandit, but that was about it. I was instantly hooked and bought up everything I could find of his soon after. The following summer I actually got to see him play on one of his last tours. It was at the Warren County Fair out in the sticks of St.Louis. It was July4th and the hottest day I think I’ve ever experienced. I remember the concert, while being lots of fun, was also a little sad for the fact that Jerry’s audience consisted only of 40 sunburnt people sitting on hay bails. None of whom seemed entirely interested. None of whom had flown from LA just for that show. Before and after the show I sat on those hay bails talking to my dad about how utterly pathetic my love life was not knowing that within five days I’d meet my wife.

I have often thought about what it is that makes me connect with Jerry Reed’s music so much. How did I get so easily obsessed over some goofy 70’s country icon that picked a mean guitar and wrote just as many bad songs as good ones? The best I can come up with is that he simply reminds me of the South and I discovered him during a time when I was trading the South in for the West Coast. While moving West has been the best thing to ever happen to me, the place where my brain, goals, ambition, friends and career lives, I will always feel like my heart, my family, my heritage and upbringing will always remain in the South. I suppose it’s that part of you you can’t ever fully go back to, even if you moved there. It’s a state of mind more than a street address and a yard full of pine needles. For me, the “idea” of the South is a very peaceful and safe one that is highly valued in the hectic world I live in. Nothing transports me faster to that place than listening to Jerry’s voice. I know I cling to his songs so strongly, not necessarily because they’re the best ever written, but because it’s the musical, almost tangible, expression of my upbringing and that “Southern” ideal. The same reason I flock to deer and tractor paraphernalia when taste clearly begs me not to.

So that’s all I have to say. I’m glad I got to see him play once. I’m glad Jeremy Davis did a painting of him for me last year. I’m glad his music will still be around every time my brain needs a break.

Here is one my favorite songs of his that you can download: “The Likes of Me”

And here is one my favorite Youtube videos of his…

It’s no secret that The Road Warrior is my favorite movie of all time. It’s also no secret that Tyler Stout is one of my favorite artists. So I got a surprise ticket to high five city this morning when I discovered Tyler had created a poster of my favorite flick. I already own his take on The Thing and Big Trouble In Little China. This new one might be my favorite though. Again, check out Tyler’s site if you’ve never been.

Went to my first Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend and had a complete blast. It was way fun to see how excited everyone was just to be there and to be showing off their costumes. Everyone was super nice. It seemed like the biggest compliment you could give these guys was to ask them to pose for a photo. What was crazy was as soon as you asked for a photo they went immediately into a rehearsed pose down. Everyone did that, except sad stormtrooper, which you will see. Skipped sitting in on any panels in order to take photos, people watch all day, and browse aisle after aisle of merch booths and displays. Great afternoon. You can view photos here.

The Los Angeles Museum of Natural History pretty much stinks as far as their diorama collection goes, but I have to give them a cornicopia of high fives for their latest “installment”. Can’t get over how well made that Dino costume is and you know everyone of those kids are having their minds collectively blown. Too much fun..

Steve Schofield’s photography is worth checking out. He takes cosplayers and puts them into everyday settings, usually posing around their house. The Star Wars photos stand out the best to be, but that’s to be expected I suppose.

Eades is doing his annual Summer Mix Series and it’s fantastic as always. Had some freetime this weekend to put together my own submission, In Heat, which you can check out over here.

I had an awesome opportunity to take set photos during the production of a PSA for the Los Angeles Youth Network. LAYN is a great organization that provides residences, support, and care to homeless teens in LA. LAYN worked with the non-profit group, Women In Film , to put the shoot together and it turned out to be a really awesome day. You can check out photos here.

My buddy, Fisher, had his 30th birthday at Boomer’s this last week. You can check out photos here.

This past Sunday we had Molly dedicated at Church and then a big lunch with family and friends afterwards. You can check photos out here.