Music and Booze With Mo

Latest Episodes:

Episode 213: Episode 213 - Bo Counts Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Bo Counts is the owner of Pinpoint in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a place where you can have a delicious craft cocktail and play pinball. After his years as a house DJ, he found himself working in other areas of the entertainment industry and his travels introduced him to great drinks and bars all over the country. This inspired him to bring something like that, but with his own spin, to Fayetteville. Of course, the playlist is on "point" and he still enjoys crafting a mood with music as much as working with his team to create great cocktails. To get a sense of what a night at Pinpoint sounds like, check out this playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4DGVfMPb78bGU2cZq5VfrJ?si=dzXdy4UhT0mIglTHYq98_A

Episode 212: Episode 212 - Brandon Berkel Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Brandon Berkel can be found mixing it up at James Beard nominated Van Atta in Telluride, Colorado. The spot just turned a year old, but Brandon has been crafting cocktails for a while now, spending time in St. Louis and later Nashville, honing his chops at Attaboy. Prior to that, he could be found selling merch at shows for his screamo and metal band friends, until he wound up on stage playing bass on the Warped Tour when the original bassist dropped out. It's all about creating community in his mountain town these days though, making playlists and drinks for his guests. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/200yt3w28HX4TEKzq8WLFa?si=s6zhhUWESFO_hLvsKdmyBA

Episode 211: Episode 211 - Kitty Aug 18, 2026

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Kitty is the Beverage Babaylan of NYC's deliciously devilish hideaway, Paradise Lost. Years after getting their start in a classic New Jersey dive bar catering to college students and recent graduates, they took their love of crafting cocktails and respect for their Filipino heritage across the river to eventually be part of the opening team for this special spot. They also filled the playlists up with ska and punk and so much more, all of which is a far cry from the violin and piano lessons of their youth. Check out their massive Paradise Lost playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5jf5zmEkxvvkoXaSvnrVDi?si=-IN2iHWRQpCUYYOsMu6Zcw

Episode 210: Episode 210 - JP Hunter Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

JP Hunter remembered visiting tiki spots when he was a kid growing up in LA, and so when he retired from the construction biz in Texas, he figured the time had come for him to open one up there. His bar, 4 Kahunas in Arlington, TX, has become the third space he always dreamed of hosting people in. It's also a place where he can indulge in his deep love of exotica and oldies as it creates the perfect mood for those drinking his tropical libations.

Episode 209: Episode 209 - Hayze Webster Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

Hayze Webster is both the bar manager and rum manager of the legendary old school tiki palace, Hala Kahiki Lounge, in River Grove, Illinois. From his start in sports bars by Wrigley Field to crafting in speakeasies like Untitled Supper Club Chicago, he always had a deep love of tiki drinks and enjoyed the art that surrounded the scene. As he taught himself the tropical stuff via Beachbum Berry's books, he landed his spot in tiki history by getting his dream gig and learning more about rums than he ever expected to. He stopped teaching himself the keyboards but may still pull out his mixer to get some synth grooves going and indulge in his love of pop divas, or some chopped & screwed jams (which he would love to play in the bar some time). Check out Hayze's Groovy Daze here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/27kqOAdnw3ZxQpzGC0vaqX?si=yErkpnv-SV-ua1HPrrYB-Q

Episode 208: Episode 208 - Nick Pikounis Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Baltimore native Nick Pikounis is the bar manager and beverage director of the tropical rum bar Pink Flamingo. It's surprising that someone who learned craft cocktails at a spot that wouldn't allow the use of citrus would now commandeer a place that revels in them - and he steered them right into a James Beard nomination. He also loves DJ culture, making some attempts in the electronic world after a brief childhood stint in clarinet and piano. Listen to his Baltimore B-sides mix here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2A6ZkL5zjVQYst1rg5jfjo?si=nPbOkBnpRI2sC70_Dg5o0A

Episode 207: Episode 207 - Michael Cobb Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

After years of working in hospitality within the Disneyland environment (hello Club 33!), Michael Cobb found himself opening up a little tiki bar smack in the middle of Santa Barbara's wine country. High Roller Tiki Lounge, located in Solvang, CA, is a tropical oasis in a small Danish village where you can catch rockabilly and surf bands booked by Michael, who also throws shows in Vegas and crafts his own spirit - Bettie Page Rum - made in Ventura, CA. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1A1vgERlWlUj1Npgy6F6K4?si=A8Xq-Q-2RS2_1UbCMS44PA

Episode 206: Episode 206 - Osman Cortave May 25, 2026

Show notes

Osman Cortave opened up Loma Bar in Providence, Rhode Island, with his bartender wife and twin brother. It was a dream they all shared and worked hard to make a reality, creating a inclusive space that serves up great cocktails and Latin vibes in an intimate setting. Their earnestness has earned them Tales of the Cocktail and James Beard notice, and the first cocktail Osman ever served was to bar legend, Dale Degroff. Osman also helms the music in the space, creating a mood of Latin crooners and jazz which has proven appealing to all who sit inside to imbibe. Check out an example of the tunes you can hear at Loma here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3DBXTpTOMHGpbhDFmwcf6A?si=ZxB6x9FST1C3hXW0QQuJFg

Episode 205: Episode 205 - Demi Natoli May 11, 2026

Show notes

Demi Natoli made her way to her current role as National Beverage Director at Nashville based Call Mom (which includes Dolly Parton inspired bar White Limozeen, The Spare Room Hollywood, The Mountaineering Club Seattle) after kicking things off back home in Miami at spots like Kreepy Tiki and even being recruited to serve at the legendary Lost Lake in Chicago. Her Miami time even saw her booking punk & surf bands for Kreepy Tiki while plunking away at the guitar for her own entertainment, and moving to Nashville just gave her an even deeper appreciation for country music as well as contributing to the cocktail culture that was just starting to grow when she got there. Check out her nostalgic Kreepy Tiki mix here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CrNj8RFlSp9Malbso2jPS?si=W7D6fzIdQj69aZ1jmND3VQ

Episode 204: Episode 204 - Mike Anders Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

Mike Anders currently tends bar at the James Beard nominated spot the Elbow Room, established in 1970 in Vancouver, Washington. When he got into bartending, he was content to just pour shots and beers, but keep finding himself in places that experimented in creativity and he went along for the ride. Now crafting beautiful drinks is just second nature to him, so working in a cocktail dive bar is the perfect place to be. The Elbow Room also places a high premium on albums, which works great for Mike since he has thousands of records he brings into the spot to help set the mood. Check out some of his favorite long plays via this Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2d91jHMHK8fe9LST6OYwfx?si=o2jKnbXeSNWhBkiEwnHS7w

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