This brand new Black Keys video for “Little Black Submarines” makes us proud of Nashville. It is a no frills, straight up rock and roll performance piece created by the incomparable Danny Clinch. The red sparkling backdrop renders the setting unmistakable as one of our favorite local dive music venues, The Springwater Supper Club and Lounge. The familiar and energetic faces of our friends on the stage and in the crowd make us very, very happy. We hope you enjoy it as well.

Our new Labor Day tradition is going west to the Chief Blackhawk Antique Motorcycle Swapmeet in Davenport, Iowa.

Matt has been making the trek to Davenport for several years. I joined him for the first time last year. I have never seen anything like it.

A bunch of dudes from all over the world converging… not just buying old motorcycles from the early 1900s to present, but negotiating over the random old crusty parts, as well.

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We are all headed south Friday to spend the weekend with the Billy Reid crew in their hometown of Florence, Alabama.

Can’t wait to visit with everyone at “shindig,” Billy’s annual summer party. Billy knows how to make some clothes, no doubt. But the celebration of food, music and community that he and his team have worked so earnestly to develop around his brand are paramount.

Speaking of music…

Historically, some of the best tunes ever made were recorded in the region around Florence, specifically in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones, Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin all found themselves in this little town making the classics that we all consider gospel today.

Now decades later, Alabama Shakes, a grass-rooted group from Muscle Shoals arises, belting it out with such unreal soul. Close your eyes when listening to them. You will assume they are contemporaries of those epic musical ancestors that camped in their town years ago.

On Friday night, we will cram in The Shoals Theatre and listen to Alabama Shakes play to their hometown.

I have chills just writing this.

If you already know about them, you know what I mean. If you don’t – go find them now.

Love,

Carrie

There are different levels of suffocation one reaches with every hamburger tasted. This evolution starts out at a McDonald’s, tasting that sugar burger for the first time and thinking, “is there anything greater?” Then one day, your grandfather takes you to some greasy spoon out in the middle of nowhere and your taste buds suddenly no longer crave that shriveled up clown burger and you think… could there be more? This, my friend, is a path only discovered by a few meat-eating connoisseurs who dare to go where others will not. To boldly claim a spot in a line where every second of your lunch break will be put to the test. This, my friend, is Gabby’s. Located at 493 Humphreys St. Nashville, TN 37203.

“It’s worth talking about!”

Call ahead to ensure not getting fired from your job. They’ll have it waiting for ya!

There are places in the world where people dream up dreams

so simply un-fantastical and practical they seem

to lose all possibility of thinking super things

of dancing wild animals with diamond-coated wings

instead they dream of furniture

of buying a new hat

of owning matching silverware

can you imagine that?

An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton is well… just that. We love the pure and simple message, the incredible drawings and the playful reminder to dream big, for both kids and adults. Brendan Leonard wrote a great article about it here.

Several weeks ago, Matt and I were asleep but the TV was still on. We both woke up literally at the same time, startled by the musical guest on Jimmy Fallon. We said pretty much in unison, “Who in the hell is this?”

Obviously both captivated by the mesmerizing music, I woke up the next morning and immediately researched Robert Glasper Experiment. I found a bunch of his early stuff, all jazz. Then, finally found what I was looking for: his new record Black Radio. I’ve listened to his rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” about a thousand times since. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

-Carrie