Music and Booze With Mo

Xandi Gray has learned much behind the bar at the family business in Houston, The Spot (and the Spot EaDo). These lessons about community, culture, and self control are ones she applies to her musical career as she navigates her path to rising stardom in the R&B world. Check out her drinking songs (and some of her own music) here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3GHiN7w21i8GKGKmXIFZSv?si=165...

Cale Brown fell in love with rum & decided that he was going to use his Junglebird afro tiki nights at Dovetail Bar in New Orleans to remind people of rum's origins - black and brown labor. His efforts already have him traveling around the country competing and educating others. Music goes back many generations as his family descends from one of the earliest jazz pioneers, NOLA legend Buddy Bo...

Ed Strohsahl runs the blenders (and more) at New Orleans Cuban style cocktail spot Manolito, but he has also spent a lifetime playing bass both for fun and for a living. As a 10 year old, he probably never guessed that his bass playing would take him all over the world, and as a twenty something dive bartender, he didn't really think he would wind up learning craft at James Beard nominated Cane &a...

Like so many bartenders, Rosey Mitchell faked her way into her first job, but found herself at London's legendary Milk and Honey and now is the Drink Development Queen (that's really her title!) at Three Sheets in the Dalston neighborhood. She loves peaches the fruit as well as Peaches the artist and is looking for someone to write words to her guitar compositions, but can school us on armagnac in...

Marina Ferreria, beverage director of San Diego's female led Botanica, talks about how her career had her bouncing from bar to bar across the country before landing at her current gin joint. She also comes from a family of amazing Brazilian musicians, so music has always figured into her creations. Check out her ultimate playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4c1JmiQ45d8IPkkYBXKyV9?si=04...

Joe Stinchcomb's adventures in the culinary world led him to curiosity about cocktails and soon he was a James Beard nominated beverage director. Now he co-owns Bar Muse in Oxford, Mississippi where he incorporates local produce into his drinks and hip hop rules the house. Fun facts: his first concert was Mystikal, and he also exists as a Lego figurine. Check out his musical muses here: https://op...

A drummer, a veteran, and now a craft bartender, Michael Kashey represents for Mandan, North Dakota with Thomas & Moriarty's,  which he also co-owns. Travel and a love of history led him to studying classic old cocktail books & recipes (yes, the place is named after classic bartender Jerry Thomas as well as Sherlock's nemesis) which he wanted to then tweak and share with his community. In...

Meaghan Dorman is a NYC cocktail legend who has been with the classic Raines Law Room (and the other bars it has spawned) since its inception while also inspiring and influencing bartenders around the world. But did you know that she also had a music internship that allowed her to be in the same room as Mariah Carey? She's very hands on with her bars' playlists too, and even made one for us: https...

Kimberly Patton-Bragg (aka KPB) went from a Florida goth to a NYC musical theatre kid and landed in New Orleans, where she is currently the beverage director of Palm & Pine, as well as one of Imbibe's 75 to watch in 2022. She's got stories from the early NYC craft cocktail days and NOLA tales of debauchery, as well as a great love for Bob Fosse, all in store for you on this episode. Glorious g...

Aaron Hall had every intention of taking his college radio experience and making a name for himself in the music biz. Instead, bartending and music venues took hold and now he's a partner in the Portland fave (and nationally celebrated) spot, Hey Love. Check out his Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6h8jfsS5arBi330c0EPgIR?si=61293f26b098428b

Roberto Lares got his first barbacking gig after he finished a night of playing trumpet in his jazz band and then offered to help the venue since they were down a person at the bar. Now he's mixing drinks at Houston favorite, Johnny's Gold Brick, making playlists, exploring his love of whiskey, and still loving jazz. He also gave us a 19 hour playlist to listen to while you chill out with a drink...

Andra "AJ" Johnson - a self proclaimed "cassette DJ" - went from bartender to barowner by the time she was 30, and uses her platform to showcase the skills of black hospitality professionals while crafting some amazing cocktails.  Her "whiteplatesblackfaces" initiative has become a force in the industry. Also, she used to play the French horn. (Pic by Reema Desai) Check her playlist here: https://...

Russell Gardener, born and raised in Las Vegas and hospitality, was living his best life as a respected cicerone and doing the beer thing when he had the realization that he could ditch his savings and open a surf punk tiki bar instead. So he brought Red Dwarf into the world, showcasing his twists on tropical drinks and knack for booking rowdy bands. And he can still play his drum kit sometimes to...

Adam Demerath, currently keeping tropical libations afloat at Brooklyn's Sunken Harbor Club, tells us about his tiki road trip and shares some of the tunes he listened to along the way. Hear how his time running beverage programs at classy cocktail bars and throwing elaborate home tiki parties landed him a gig at one of the best tropical spots in the U.S. And check out his rockin' road trip playli...

Rodrigo Serrano worked at casino bars in Guatemala and later found himself in the Florida temple of tiki, the legendary Mai Kai. A move to Chicago landed him at a modern classic: Three Dots & a Dash, and its speakeasy, the Bamboo Room. But he isn't just about tiki, he truly loves the classics... be it cocktails or rock. Want some Pink Floyd with your negroni? He's got you. And he's got bar mus...

Kingston Chan not only creates tropical goodness at Clifton's Pacific Seas, but his TikiTakeoverLA pop ups truly have taken over Los Angeles! Not only does he craft cocktails, but he crafts the playlists for his events too, highlighting queer artists to bring more visibility to his community via music and booze. Tune in to some of his special music picks here: https://open.spotify.com/user/shebmo

Eric Lambright, the lead bartender creating tropical drinks for Savannah's Bamboo Room Tiki Bar, also mixes the music for patrons - both tiki and not tiki. He's ready to educate anyone who wanders into the bar about the bountiful world of rums as well as homegrown hip hop. Fun fact: he once served Paul McCartney, and he once played tuba. Check out his Tiki Not Tiki playlist here: https://open.spot...

Pasan Wijesena, owner of Sydney spots Jacoby's Tiki Bar & Earl's Juke Joint, was part of the first wave of proper cocktail bars in his city and once created an entire menu inspired by Aussie legend Nick Cave. He tells us how Twin Peaks & tiki intersect, about his record store days, and how Australia came to love craft beer.  Check out his massive playlist here:https://open.spotify.com/user...

Informally appointed as a "ginnoiseur" and currently the Sr. Gin Ambassador for Beam Suntory, Keli Rivers has a vast knowledge of gin as well as a massive collection (which only rivals her record collection). Not only was she the first hire at gin temple Whitechapel in SF, but she also served as KALX, Berkeley's music director about the same time. Listen to the podcast for gin lessons, and her mus...

Libby Lingua started out pouring shots in clubs and has worked her way into creating the Tales of the Cocktail nominated bar, Highball, in Phoenix AZ , where she also happens to be the musical director. She did a stint with Sony Music and sharpened her crafting skills at tropical hideaway Undertow before embarking on her own consultation company and co-managing this sophisticated lounge. Check out...

John Peet tells us his story about starting as a bartender in Cincinnati, winding through LA, and ending up as the bar owner of Jane's Hideaway in Nashville. Crafting cocktails, running a music venue, and rescuing a beat up piano are just some of the tales (the ghost of Boots Randolph?) we'll hear on this episode. And check out his Friends of Jane playlist, featuring acts that have graced the Jane...

Andy Holmes picked up a guitar when he was 11 after being inspired by The Wonder Years, & has been making music ever since. He makes cocktails too (at Philly's Martha and also the International Bar)  and loves to have fun with Hennessy. And Negronis. And mezcals. We'll hear one of his tracks, and you can oscillate musically with him here: https://open.spotify.com/user/shebmo

Aaron Sparks - bartender, entrepreneur, & self professed band nerd -  talks about his flirtation with music production before realizing he was already deep in the hospitality world. He moved from passing out music swag in Akron, Ohio clubs to starting his cocktail catering company, MXOLOGY21. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tZGepyYp2aNXxDGo7pDQz?si=7868103729fb4...

Whiskey advocate and creator Tracie Franklin has graced many a stage with her beautiful voice, and many a bar with her whiskey knowledge. She shares her wisdom about the whiskey industry, her goals towards BIPOC visibility within that industry, & traveling the world singing and dancing. Her songs that evoke emotions live here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/77VArltDKHfBpNmb73ff3P?si=0ed46eb...

Kelso Norris, beverage director of LA's Genever (nominated for 2022's Outstanding Bar Program by the James Beard Foundation), guides us through her years of becoming a bartender while fronting a band in NYC during the heady '00s resurgence of both craft cocktails and indie rock of all sorts. Stay tuned to hear a track from her previous band, Una Lux, and check out her playlist here: https://open.s...