Music and Booze With Mo

Latest Episodes:

Episode 183: Episode 183 - Dylan O'Brien May 12, 2025

Show notes

Dylan O'Brien, owner of Oakland's Prizefighter, is a born and raised East Bay kid who always appreciated the farm to table approach of the Bay, and made that a part of his bars (he also owned SF's Bloodhound). Back in the day, he sang in vocal groups and still plays guitar, but shockingly has never done karaoke despite his singing skills! He started off working in wine, but a friend showed him that he would be much happier working with spirits (especially that "weird tequila") and he now not only oversees his bar, but also a diverse bottle shop next door. And this playlist proves he knows how to warm a crowd up for the night: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4t21rwXkkGi9VbiMZIjBIr?si=zdT9FM10S32JKH8lNhFxiQ

Episode 182: Episode 182 - Aaron Post Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Aaron Post, owner of Valkyrie, St. Vitus, & Maestro (in the summer of 2025) in Tulsa, OK, started off in wine and fine dining but his joy of cocktails led him in another direction. His deep appreciation for hospitality and crafting drinks made him want to create wonderful and safe environment for others - be it a speakeasy or a dance club - and he's followed that passion in the city where he says you can do just about anything. Evidently, that included learning accordion as a kid and graduating into classical and electronic music as an adult, never losing a passion for any kind of music that makes people smile. Check out his emotional rollercoaster of a playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/72ysngg3wdc3zpDI0rfefv?si=D8k5qJzcRGGK5fD-xNRuvA

Episode 181: Episode 181 - James Lawrence Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

James Lawrence can be found mixing delicious cocktails at the tiny Kansas City, MO speakeasy, Swordfish Tom's. Music is important to a place named in honor of Tom Waits, but so is community, which is something James understands deeply. Whether it's the community of an intimate cocktail space, or the musical communities in the jam band and jamtronica scenes, James enjoys cultivating enjoyable environments for others to share an experience in. He loves this so much he left his role in the wine world to be able to have bartending as a permanent side hustle along with a flexible daytime gig! He also made a groovy playlist for us: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0AAWk8xmFfnskwSGPIZhgb?si=RYv9Zuo1SbSN5ahIAMXotA

Episode 180: Episode 180 - Caroline Pardilla Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Caroline Pardilla started blogging in the aughts when Los Angeles was really just getting going with a craft cocktail scene, and that soon lead to a career in spirits writing. She is now celebrating the publication of her first book, Margarita Time, which allowed her to gather recipes and stories from the likes of agave aficionado Max Reis and global humanitarian chef Jose Andres, while keeping the recipes accessible to any home bartender. She also loves to make playlists for any occasion, and created a cha cha-licious midcentury vibe with this one: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/420P8SA2H3tEXWzLxPec4r?si=MQHu1V9_Rl-mYXJO_9gimg

Episode 179: Episode 179 - Sammi Katz Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Sammi Katz, who bartends over at The Rockwell Place in Brooklyn, doubles as an author who just published her second book. This one, Spirited Women: Makers, Shakers, and Trailblazers in the World of Cocktails, goes all over the globe to talk to amazing women in the spirits industry and includes a recipe for each profile. We talk about Sammi's journey from actor to bartender to author and how she got more ladies behind the bar and on the playlists. Check out her Ladies mix here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Q45iJGdxVOGIfJjsij9J4?si=-1VAxi0KTdSAWVRkMbolLg

Episode 178: Episode 178 - Hannah Withers Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Hannah Withers is a caretaker of legendary Fayetteville, Arkansas spot, Maxine's Tap Room, which opened in 1950 and has a pretty incredible legacy. She (along with her husband, Ben Gitchel) has brought Maxine's into the modern cocktail age while maintaining its past and keeping it relevant into the future by creating legacy funds with the local university, supporting live music, and creating a new generation of craft bartenders.Hannah herself came from a family of musicians and it wasn't unusual for them to have bands crashing at their home when passing through town. Check out her Hannifesto playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CFDNzeUUaggrXLJkHffj2?si=Jvxe9q7wQp6dQbI4ohngOw

Episode 177: Episode 177 - Ted Kilgore Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Ted Kilgore fell for spirits hard - and he grew up in a lifestyle that absolutely forbade that type of thing. A mostly self taught bartender who started in a sketchy hotel, he read bartender books and followed the leads of cocktail legends to work his way up to eventual ownership. Now as co-owner of Planters House and Small Change in St. Louis, Missouri, Kilgore is able to marry his two big obsessions - spirits and Tom Waits - to create craft cocktail menus as well as the playlists to go along with them. Check out his Goin' Out West playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JgoYggfz26dXcUsdGLQmS?si=6UbaKFPbRT2w9VvVCqxBvA

Episode 176: Episode 176 - Daddy Long Legs Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Daddy Long Legs has bounced around Chicago, Alaska, and is currently in Salt lake City, Utah creating delicious cocktails and pastries: a love affair of two great tastes which taste great together! With culinary school behind him, this 2024 Imbibe Person to Watch has bounced between the kitchen and the bar and enjoys combining the two with a boozy dessert or a savory cocktail, just to keep things interesting. He's also been known to flow some great rhymes, having grown up with a Chicago house DJ dad and the ability to write lyrics for himself to share when the mood strikes him. Check out his Journey to the Iconics playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7p281ZZ39BmmbF8FOMUU8A?si=sl1PFUDqQU-x_il2y2bGNg

Episode 175: Episode 175 - Julio "Jules" Gutierrez Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

During the pandemic, Julio "Jules" Gutierrez got inspired to make his own cocktails, like many of us did. His twist? He decided to create cocktails with the intention of teaching others about indigenous spirits, cultures, and music. The resulting pop up, Chuntikis, has taken him all over the United States as well as Mexico as he left behind a stint as a radio DJ in favor of touring with his drinks. This 2023 Imbibe "Person to Watch" educates his audience with thoughtful cocktails created through a tropical lense, which has taken him to interesting places, including a Savage Fenty photo shoot (he was the model). Check out the music that inspired both his cocktails and the pop up here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02FCgB94cQsmzWOxxHpUaM?si=Gb_eeioOTfChej8HXImvEA

Episode 174: Episode 174 - Abby Ehmann Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

Abby Ehmann, owner and bartender at NYC's Lucky in the East Village, has wanted to own a bar since she was in college because she just loved spending time and fixing drinks in those spaces. Now she owns her "dive bar for grownups," which also features a jukebox curated to reflect the neighborhood over the years, featuring bands from the area, playlists representing bars and parties of years past, and more meaningful music to her patrons and visitors alike. We talk beer that tastes like beer and the glory of a good sing a long on this episode. Check out Abby's neighborhood playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KN9eEDN97uaDMiAZ5LXRK?si=2Q71wTQkRb-C_RK-J8N__w

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