Music and Booze With Mo

Latest Episodes:

Episode 173: Episode 173 - Serena Kim Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

Serena Kim got bit by the hip hop bug early, and dove into the culture completely. So how did she wind up the co-owner of the Swift House Inn and the popular bar in it? After a stint at Jive Records (among several hip hop labels) and serving as the features editor at Vibe magazine, Serena took her turntables and pens to Middlebury, Vermont to take over the Swift House Inn and start Fancy Fridays at their bar, which has an acclaimed wine list and has become a cocktail stop in the state. She's educating her clientele about dance music, and created this amazing Dance Map playlist for us too: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1c7xS37d1aqjXK0wjLqP98?si=Y3aZ50BRT06LmMW6firG6A

Episode 172: Episode 172 - Cristina Allen Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

Cristina Allen is the cofounder of Volans Tequila and it's no lie to say that she rocks! Born and raised in Mexico, she brought her love of tequila to the US when she arrived to study sound engineering. She spent 5 years in LA working the boards at such legendary venues as the Roxy and the Troubador, and moved with her husband Chad to Boise where she took the reigns at the Knitting Factory. The pandemic caused her to shift gears and soon she & Chad were devoted to their other love - tequila! They now produce additive free and small batch tequilas, and yes, she still loves heavy metal and classic rock. Check out her playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4FfZ1mddfF8OvtiWby3jXa?si=0tLY2eSSSmmVorkI7mSTzw

Episode 171: Episode 171 - Ryan Abrams Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

Ryan Abrams takes us on a little tour of the bar scene in Birmingham, Alabama, where he is a part owner as well as beverage director of the classy cocktail spot, Paper Doll. He found himself becoming charmed by hospitality and the concert scene in his hometown, and those loves led him to becoming more involved in his community. If you come to his bar on the right night, you might find yourself helping to create the playlist. Check out the playlist he shared with us here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nEAJdsMHp65UEoUwwCz2K?si=RByilcMBR5STSZZysW-2mw

Episode 170: Episode 170 - Dave Wondrich Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Dave Wondrich is an acclaimed spirits writer and historian - Imbibe is a cocktail classic about mixology in the US - but his journalism career actually kicked off with music. As a bassist, he played in NYC's rock clubs and cabarets at the height of the city's edgiest musical era (late 70s early 80s) before heading to LA to try and get signed with his band, A Blind Dog Stares. That didn't happen, but he did educate his bandmates about scotch along the way. Listen to his tour stories, his path to becoming a leading authority on the bar scene then and now, and some of his music! Also check out his native New Yorker playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2o5uU83DMYzNzGbUWAPGuk?si=XAJzpIP6SoyR8WPpuXepuw

Episode 169: Episode 169 - Deke Dunne Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Allegory in Washington D.C. has received accolades from many of the world's most prestigious organizations, and beverage and creative director Deke Dunne is just part of the reason why. We chat about this bar based on a mural featuring civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, the vibrant D.C. bar scene, and the push to make hotel bars respectable again. Deke also gives some tips on how to sing in that Cookie Monster voice without destroying your throat, as he was a vocalist for a bunch of bands over the years (playing bass on an instrument he permanently borrowed didn't quite work out). Check out Deke's playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tn3SzVn10MHzWAhA7CstN?si=4NjnShpPQ5W0FN3_KBPDGw

Episode 168: Episode 168 - Michael Aredes Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

Michael Aredes, currently at NYC's award winning spot Superbueno, has long worked and championed both bar and audio culture. He has presented a seminar on the link between the two and formerly poured cocktails at James Murphy's (LCD Soundsystem) bar Nightmoves. This former Punch Bartender in Residence came from a very musical family: Michael played many instruments and sang. Now he channels that passion into amazing playlists for his queer Latino pop up, Noche Traviesa, which travels around the country. Check out one of those playlists here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4nVBo0ZgROpByAp0UTYWNZ?si=8f52f3940ff04c4a

Episode 167: Episode 167 - Derrick Jones Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Derrick Jones drums in a couple of bands when he's not crafting wild garnishes for the immersive tropical Seattle spot Inside Passage, which lives tucked away inside legendary bar Rumba. Following in his father's footsteps, the Hawaiian native was banging on pots and pans before learning to play drums in all sorts of genres, and currently can be seen on various Seattle club and festival stages. When he isn't there, he's setting up shop not only at Inside Passage, but Rumba and Life on Mars too. He talks about the intense link between music and booze in Seattle on this episode, and picks some tunes for you to listen to as well: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4a8OoHgwX2LlCdFCHTvQ60?si=f2fde51527ec408a

Episode 166: Episode 166 - Austin Forshee Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

Austin Forshee was a booze slinger in Kalamazoo and then found himself in Grand Rapids, Michigan as part of the opening crew of the celebrated tiki palace, Max's South Seas Hideaway. He went from muddled old fashioneds to training with the legendary Martin Cate, and now balances out all of that exotica with metal (which actually isn't all that uncommon). From banging on the drums to learning all the r(h)ums, Austin tells us how he learned to tiki and also get his Tommy Lee on. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3NuKV8Vo8Y7wFP1KVjmj45?si=cc288188edb94e8b

Episode 165: Episode 165 - Kat Bailey Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

Kat Bailey, one of the general managers of the Tonga Hut (LA's oldest tiki bar), started mixing tropical drinks there in 2018 after years of slinging martinis alongside wanna be actors and crafting menus for karaoke bars. A lifelong Angeleno, Kat was going to the Tonga Hut years before she actually worked there, and was a huge fan of LA's 90s alt rock scene too, as her devotion to locals the Red Hot Chili Peppers demonstrates. Check out her Tonga mix here, because it truly had a bit of everything: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3yq2g5ZhdBgoWH8GsrMUbb?si=33be0f940e04448b

Episode 164: Episode 164 - Nick Elam Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

Nick Elam was deep into the world of tiki long before he was even old enough to drink - carving, painting, and even designing bar menus waiting for the day he could get behind the stick himself. He also learned to play several instruments, even becoming a pretty good surf guitarist on the way. Now he can be found at Huli Huli Tiki Lounge in Powell, Ohio, brainstorming new drink ideas with his bar team and educating his patrons on the wide category of rum. He made us a pretty surftastic (and more!) playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1uYMjOZqJ2a8TkPD4BudYc?si=5ff51443db254fcf

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