Santa Ynez, CA 08/11/2012
Love the open road and open space in California. Somehow, 5 hour drives go a little faster with this scenery.
After a wild and crazy night in Capitola, CA the night before playing at a cozy litte wine bar, I hit the road to the not so sleepy town of Santa Ynez, CA to join up with my buddy (and a wonderful singer/songwriter), Stephen Styles, for a gig at a new venue named Ranch & Reata Roadhouse. Run by a terrific guy and an enthusiastic music lover/DJ named Bruce, this place had a kick ass sound system, a wonderful stage, and just a cool, cool, cooool vibe. We did a quick sound check, lined up the final details, and I hit the stage around 8:00pm to kick things off and warm up the crowd for my buddy, Stephen. I had a ton of fun, enjoyed testing out their new sound system and breaking in the stage a little bit for the their soft grand opening, and relished the fact that I had Bear, the best sound man I’ve ever met, running both monitors and front of house sound for my set. I received a bunch of really nice compliments from the audience after my show, sold a number of CDs, re-connected with some friends and fans from the area I hadn’t seen in years, and then dove into the most insane salmon dish I have ever had. I’d say it was a pretty sweet night…
Stephen Styles and "Vince" ripping up the stage, country-style, at Ranch & Reata Roadhouse last night.
After I wrapped up, I cleared the stage for Stephen Styles and “Vince”. I met Stephen through a songwriting conference I attend whenever possible, Durango Songwriters Expo. From the first time I heard this dude, I was really impressed. Outstanding singing, solid guitar playing, terrific songwriting, and a great stage presence make this guy a force to be reckoned with. I guarantee you that you will be hearing more from Stephen soon. As expected, these guys killed it and brought the house down.
It was so much fun to have the opportunity to perform at this neat, new venue and to be able to share the stage with Stephen Styles for a night. A hearty “thank you” to the folks at Ranch & Reata Roadhouse for hosting the show, Bear for running terrific sound, Stephen for putting it all together and inviting me to join in on the fun, and my friends Joel and Warren for taking care of me with a wonderful crash pad for the night. Pretty much perfect.
This is THE joint in Santa Ynez, CA. Swing by for your southern food and music fix the next time you're in town.