CD overview: Scott Kirby, "Sol Searching"

Scott Kirby, Sol Searching, Little Flock Music

I’ve told this story so many times, if you have heard it before feel free to skip forward a few lines. Back about seven or eight years ago, I was listening to Radio Margaritaville when I heard –  with a nod to Monty Python – “something completely different”. The lyrics had to do with the beach, but it wasn’t done by Jimmy Buffett. The RM website didn’t tell me who it was and I listened for the dj to announce the song but he never did. The same thing happened the next half dozen or so times I heard it – but each time I would stop whatever I was doing and listen, transfixed by the lyrics about living by blue water – something I have had the opportunity to do a couple of times, only to get yanked back to reality way before I felt it was time. I long to do it again someday and I wore the words of the song like a dream coat. Eventually, I found out the song was called “Lucky Enough” by Scott Kirby. I have had the good fortune to see Scott perform several times – interviewed him for my blog, Beaches, Bands & Bars. Not only do I credit him (and Radio Margaritaville) for opening my eyes and ears to the world of Trop Rock, but Scott remains one of my favorite Trop Rock performers – and that song, “Lucky Enough”, still sits on my list of favorite songs of all time... “I’ll raise my glass, you can kiss my old ass” indeed.

Fast forward to 2013 and Scott’s latest cd, Sol Searching. It’s his sixth studio outing – seventh overall, counting his live “Night On The Beach” cd. And, once again, it’s full of reflections on the turning of one’s calendar pages and the desire to find that place in your life that makes YOU happy, where you’re “Lucky Enough”. But, unlike some artists who tend to focus on the partying side of our annual trip around the sun – the “bright and shiny” - Scott’s songs tend towards the wistful and introspective. But, not in a negative sense. I made the observation to Scott once that, at first listen his lyrics may sound “glass half empty”, he is really an optimist. He seemed surprised by that but thought some more and finally said, “I guess you’re right!”. It’s the difference between writing about the rainbow and writing about the guy holding the empty pot at the other end, waiting for it to get filled with Gold. And, if only a few coins fall in it’s ok, as long as you’re near someone you love – and blue water. The opening track is a great example, “Turning Of The Tide”. Featuring a melancholy harmonica and gentle piano, it includes lines like “Days go by and how time flies…” and “Baby we were born to be in a shanty down by the sea…cause folks like us were meant to live in small houses”. But, like many of Scott’s songs, it isn’t about giving up, it’s about acceptance, and finding fulfillment in those things that make you smile. In “Turning”, once the singer accepts that “the big new place, you see, it was never meant to be” he lays his head down to get a good night’s sleep.

Next up is the title track, with its play on words (Sol being the Spanish word for Sun). Cut from similar cloth, musically, with a saxophone substituting for harmonica, “Sol Searching” immediately makes me want to pack up the car and drive somewhere whenever I hear it - Anywhere there are boats bobbing on the water. “Pick up the pieces, pick up the pace…when all you want to do is feel the sun on your face” and “When you wake stark mad in the middle of the night…southwind whispers, baby, book that flight”. If I ever get a boat, I want to name it Sol Searching.

Although Scott spends a lot of time in Key West and the bar in which he’s a co-owner, the Smokin’ Tuna, he splits his year between there and his “home port” in New England. Several songs on Sol Searching pay homage to those roots, including track three, “Any Old Town In New England”. A clap along rocker, the focus is on Beantown but places like Nantucket Sound and Narragansett Bay also get name dropped. ”Vineyard” (the only track on the cd not written by Scott) and the closing number, “Old Beach House” also take the listener to the Northeastern US – the latter an especially poignant song about respecting where you come from that could have just as easily been recorded by the late, great John Denver. “Life is not a perfect thing, it’s tattered and it’s torn, like the curtains in this old beach house the wooden steps so worn. But, when it’s all been said and done we do the best we can and pray for one more perfect day…”

I have used words like wistful, melancholy, and poignant to describe Scott Kirby’s music but he is no sour puss. As I said earlier, his songs brim with an understated optimism - and more than a little humor. “Guys Like Us”, for instance, explores the chemistry between crazy women and the fellas who fall for them, “You Better Believe Her!” is about – well, crazy women (“If she tells you she’s bat shit crazy you better believe her”) and “Whiskey” is a funky, bluesy love letter to that golden spirit.  

I can’t review a Scott Kirby cd without mentioning the sound. While some Trop Rockers opt for the lo-fi approach, letting electronics substitute for real musicians (generally due to limited budget), Kirby cds, Sol Searching included, are full-on professional productions, with strings, brass and lots of top notch guests. Peter Mayer lends backing vocals and the All-Star rhythm section of Russ Kunkel and Leland Sklar (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt) lend a hand on “Guys Like Us”.

Another outstanding outing from a true singer/songwriter. Now, excuse me while I pour a glass of rum, settle in to my comfy chair… and do a little “Sol Searching”. For more on Scott and his music, www.scottkirby.com

Shurl Gates: Passionate Parrothead

When it comes to music, Shurl Gates is the first to tell you she can't play an instrument, isn't going to win any karaoke contests. But, she more than makes up for that lack of performing skills with a deep love - make that an unbridled PASSION - for music. "I'm not much of a tv person, but I have music playing in my house 24/7. I love listening to it, going out to hear it, being around it", says Gates. That passion has led her to become one of the most familiar faces in the Trop Rock world and most ardent supporters of the people who make the music.

Shurl Galiher Gates story begins in the small Oregon coastal town of North Bend, where she moved as a kid. She went to school, married, and raised a family there. But, as all great stories go, something happened that changed her life forever. In Shurl's case, that "sudden twist of fate" was divorce.

"It was 2001, I was single again and looking to make some major changes in my life. Two of my kids had moved to Florida so I decided to go there." "There" was just outside of Tampa, where she met and started dating a Parrothead. "I had always loved Jimmy Buffett's music, but had never been exposed to the whole lifestyle". Looking to make friends in her new home, she joined the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. A former Mormon, it didn't take long for the colorful, and gregarious Phlockers to get her life going in a new direction. "That was it. I found myself - the 'me' I didn't even know was missing. It was a celebration of a new beginning." Through the TBPHC, Shurl began attending events and hearing her first "Trop Rock" bands. "I LOVED it, became a huge fan. I've always been a very social person, so I would make a point of going up and introducing myself, telling them how much I enjoyed hearing them," explains Gates. "One of the great things about Trop Rock is that the people involved are so down to earth, so approachable." Before long, she counted among her friends hard working musicians like Jimi Pappas and John Frinzi, and started getting calls from artists that were looking to play in the area. "Guys would call and say, 'I'm coming down there on my way to Meeting of the Minds. Do you know anyplace to play around Tampa?' So I'd make some calls. I started getting to know the clubs and the people who ran them. It was just something I would do as a favor to friends. I also got to know the people at Radio Margaritaville, like JD Spradlin and Steve Huntington. Steve, it turned out was a big baseball fan, so we had that in common" (Gates' son in law is All Star Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Roy "Doc" Halladay - Fred). In 2007, she was introduced to Deb Grisham - wife of Coral Reefer Doyle Grisham and owner of Deb Grisham Entertainment, which represents a number of artists, including Nadirah Shakoor, The Mayer Brothers - Peter and "Uncle Jim", John Frinzi, and John Patti. "We became on line friends, trading emails and talking about music and places for artists to play in Florida." Her list of connections continued to grow until 2008, when Michelle Becker of the Margarita Mafia called Shurl to see if she might be able to help bring in some well known presenters for that year's Trop Rock Awards in Key West. "I called Doyle and asked him if he'd be interested and he said 'YES'! Then Nadirah and Tina Gullickson agreed to do it." Her efforts not only helped cement her reputation as a true mover and shaker in the Trop Rock world, but also won her the first ever "Fan Of The Year" award.

Things REALLY changed for Gates the next year. "I was having dinner with (trop rock artist) Rob Mehl. He mentioned to me that he was looking for a Manager and I replied, 'I need a job!'", although she says she wasn't being serious at the time. "The truth is I was looking for something constructive to do - alimony only goes so far!", she jokes. "But, I had never thought that what I had been doing for all those years just to help my friends might turn into a business. Later, I was talking to Steve Huntington and he encouraged me, said it would be perfect for me". Gates Music Management was born. "It really just came out of me trying to create a job for myself, doing something I loved to do."

Two years later, Gates Music Management boasts a close working relationship with a number of top Trop Rock acts, some she managers and some she helps and supports in whatever ways she can. "I feel it's important for them to find work however and wherever they can. So, in that regard I'm not exclusive with anyone. And I only work with artists I truly believe 100% in." 


"I don't expect to get rich from this. I do it because it makes me feel good and that makes it worthwhile"




I asked Shurl to give me the low down down of some of her favorite artists (note: Some of the bands mentioned can be found in previous posts in Beaches, Bands and Bars - Fred):


Homemade Wine - "They're from Knoxville, Tennesee. They started as a three piece, by brothers Ryan and Todd Sheley. Now, they're a full band and one of the most sought after acts in Trop Rock. They'll be playing on Thursday night at this year's Meeting Of The Minds."


Jimmy Parish & The Ocean Waves Band - "From Jacksonville, Florida. They stay extremely busy. He was just down here to play a pre-Buffett show party and will be back later this month to play at The Yard (more on The Yard later - Fred). Jimmy is the complete package. A great singer, songwriter and a true gentleman."

John Reno - "John is originally from New Orleans, so he has a definite jazz influence in his music. He lives in Fairhope, Alabama now but he spends alot of time here in Florida - especially in the Ft. Myers to Tampa area. He plays a wide variety of music, from soft, romatic ballads to over the top funny songs. The one everyone always wants to hear is 'Jello Shots'. He's an amazing songwriter and has a great feel for the audience when he's playing live."

Mike Aiken - "I've known Mike for many years. Back in the days of MySpace, I would look around for new music. I came across Mike's page and liked what I heard. But, I couldn't buy his cd - there was something wrong with the site. I'm not one to give up easily, so i looked around until I found a phone number, called and spoke to a woman. I asked her if Mike ever came down to Florida. The woman turned out to be Mike's wife, Amy, who put Mike on the phone. We developed a friendship and FINALLY, after six years, I was able to get him a gig down here at the Yard!"


Mike Miller - "Mike is from Illinois, a retired police man and founding member of the Boat Drunks. When he retired, he moved onto a sailboat and now spends his winters in Florida. We hosted a cd release party for him in September."


Freebo - "Bass player from California, has played with Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Dr, John - lots of great people. I met him at Meeting Of The Minds one year and loved his music. It's not traditional Trop Rock but it fits in with it. He played a gig here with John Frinzi."


Jim Hoehn - "From Wisconsin. I also met him at a MOTM and became a fan. He's an amazing storyteller and has been a big support to me."

Rob Mehl - "He's from Hawaii where they have a long history of 'talk stories'. He's a great storyteller."


AJ Swearingen - "Another local guy. He was hired to play my son's engagement party. There were lots of things going on but, in the middle of it all, I kept stopping to listen to him. I thought, 'I really love this guy!' He reminded me alot of John Frinzi. When it was over, I went up to talk to him and it turned out he knew John - had grown up in the same area! He's not really what you'd call Trop Rock, but close enough that Jeff Allen has started playing one of his songs on BeachFront Radio (Trop Rock internet radio station, featured previously in BB&B - Fred)."


Michael Weiss - "One night I walked into one of my favorite places in Tampa, the Hideaway Cafe, and Michael was playing. I became an instant fan. He's starting to make a big splash around here - played a Pre-Buffett party, has a song on BeachFront Radio."


Trop Rock Junkies - "They're from the Tampa area, do a Buffett tribute but also some originals. They played the B Stage before the recent Buffett show last month."


"Also, people like Paul Roush, John Friday, Bob Karwin. And another guy I have been talking to is Eric Stone, from the British Virgin Islands. Eric stays very busy there in the BVI, but I would love to work with him if the opportunity came up."


I also asked Shurl about her favorite spots - for live music, as well as food and drinks - in the Tampa area:


The Yard- It is literally a backyard of a home owned by a wonderful couple, Mark and Sharon Leveratte. About three years ago, they decided they wanted to host a House Concert. It was such a success that they decided to do more. As guys would come to me, I would suggest it as a place for them to play. Before you know it, they had built a palapa style stage with a tiki bar and were hosting shows once a month. Now they have a fire pit, bathrooms in the backyard, they're building a bunk house for travelling artists to crash in. It's amazing. They won "House Concert Venue Of The Year" at the Trop Rock Awards in 2010. And they don't make a dime. Every thing collected at the door goes directly to the artists and every dollar raised from raffles (of Sharon's handmade jewelry and Mark's carved wood signs) goes back into making the venue a better place for artists to play.  They do it all because they love the music!" (note: they are currently in need of a website and looking for a Trop Rock fan who might be willing to donate some time to make that happen - Fred)


Hideaway Cafe - "In St. Pete (St. Petersburg, FL), owned by Josh Kelly, who is an artist himself. It's a great listening room that hosts all indy artists, playing all original music."


The Palm Pavilion - "It's my favorite beach bar. Right on the beach in Clearwater, owned by a guy named Ken Hamilton. Great food, lots of room, a great place for artists."


Whiskey Joe's - "On the Causeway right as you come into Tampa. The Tampa Bay Parrothead Club meets there every week. They're building a brand new music venue right on the beach that will hold about 1500 people. I can't wait to do shows there!"


Skippers - "In Tampa. We just did the Coral Reefer Souls Show there, which was a huge success. Lots of possibilities for the future there."


Rapscallions - "In Land O Lakes, a suburb of Tampa. The bar there is named after Billy Peoples, a well known Florida Parrot Head. They host alot of Trop Rock."

"Also, two other places I love that are outside the Tampa area are Archies in Ft. Pierce - It's sort of a biker's bar, but with a Pirate theme - a great place, and The Nav-A-Gator near Arcadia, Florida- It's famous in Trop Rock circles."

http://www.facebook.com/people/Gates-MusicManagement/100001472834315

http://www.debgrishamentertainment.com/about.php

http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/

http://www.finsup.com/_/index.html

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

http://www.margaritamafia.com

http://www.beachfrontradio.com/home.cfm

 

http://www.johnfrinzi.com

http://www.gigmasters.com/Acoustic-Guitar/Jimi-Pappas/

http://doylegrisham.com/

http://www.nadirahshakoor.com/fr_home.cfm

http://www.petermayer.com

http://www.unclejimrocks.com

http://www.tinag.com/

http://www.johnpatti.com/

http://www.robmehl.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Homemade-Wine-the-Band/117718255508

http://jimmyparrishonline.com/

http://johnreno.com/

http://www.mikeaikenmusic.com/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-R-Miller-Musician/113707452013105
http://freebomusic.com/
http://jimhoehn.com/http://ajswearingen.com/
http://michaeljweiss.com/fr_splash.cfm
http://www.troprockjunkies.com
http://www.phinsband.com/
http://www.johnfriday.com/ 
http://bobkarwin.com/
http://www.boatsongs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/TheYard-Tampa/100001031214679

http://www.hideawaycafe.biz/

http://palmpavilion.com/

http://www.whiskeyjoestampa.com/whiskeyjoes/

http://skipperssmokehouse.com/

http://www.rapscallions.net/

http://archiesseabreeze.com/

http://www.nav-a-gator.com/

Scott Kirby: From fishing for votes to gathering grapes.

It has happened to all of us. You're listening to the radio and suddenly a song comes on you've never heard before that stops you dead in your tracks. Something about it - the lyrics, the music, the singer's style - hits you like a brick. Such was the case several years ago, one afternoon listening to Radio Margaritaville (then internet-only, now on Sirius/XM). I had it on in the background and heard, in the middle of a set of familiar Buffett tunes, a vaguely irish sea chanty. Lilting, melancholy - sparsely produced, mostly acoustic guitar with some background vocals and a short electric guitar solo. The tune was immediately catchy, but it was what the singer was saying that made me turn the speakers up. The verses were colorful, and the chorus "If you're living to love by the ocean, and loving to live by the sea...and lucky enough to live on blue water...you're lucky enough by me" made me want to get in my car and drive to the beach right then and there. But, it was eighteen defiant words in the final verse - 3 minutes and 20 seconds into the song - that really got me: "I'll raise my glass, you can kiss my old ass, I'll die with my feet in the sand."

The song, as many Parrot Heads and Radio Margaritaville fans will recognize, was "Lucky Enough" by Scott Kirby (http://www.scottkirby.com/), one of ten tracks off his 2003 cd, "4 Good Dogs". I was an immediate fan. All three of his cds (with 2007's live "A Night On The Beach" and 2009's "Row Me Home") now spend alot of time being played around my house and "Lucky Enough" remains one of my favorite Trop Rock tracks of all time. I had a chance to catch up with Scott at his home in the Old Towne section of Key West to talk about that song, as well as how he got to where he is today, what's ahead and more....


You're a busy man, thanks for taking the time to talk...

"No problem. I was actually just out walking my dog"

One of the "4 Good Dogs"?

"Well, I did write that song after walking one of my dogs here in Key West"

We'll talk more about some of your songs later. Let's start with "Scott Kirby: The Early Years".

"I started playing drums, actually, when I was about ten, got my first guitar at twelve. I taught myself to play listening to Beatles and James Taylor records."


You were actually very involved in politics at one time, weren't you?

"I was! I grew up around politics in New Hampshire. My mother and grandmother were very involved. Around 1980, I was selling real estate at the time, and a guy named Howard Baker was running for President. I started working on his campaign in the local office. He didn't win, obviously, but it was a new experience, and there were alot of fun, interesting people. I went from there to working for some other state campaigns - the State Legislature, Governor, a Congressman. Then I got into media consulting - writing and producing tv and radio spots for political races. I did that for about eight years."


How did that experience help you down the road?

"Funny you should ask that. I was just thinking about that this morning. When you write scripts for tv or radio, you have only a certain amount of time to get your message across - you have to tell your story with a minimum of words. I guess I wound up using that experience when I started writing songs. Also, as an independent artist, you have to do alot of your own marketing and promotion. So, that experience came in handy, too."

Not to mention that both careers - music and politics - require a pretty thick skin.

"That's true."


From Politics in New Hampshire to playing guitar in Key West seems like a world apart.

"It was the late 80's, and I was going through a challenging time. Working for mostly Democrats during the Reagan years had been frustrating. I was single and the long, cold New England winters were really starting to wear on me. I had put my guitar away the whole time I was working in politics, had gotten so busy I didn't really have time for it. But, then I found myself starting to play again, had gotten a few gigs at some local ski areas. I decided it was time to make a life style change. I got a legal pad and wrote down how much I would need to make to survive. I was working for the Democratic Leader in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and went in and gave her my notice, told her I wanted to play music for a living. She was a musician herself, so she understood and gave me her blessing. A short time later, I was at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. I had my car packed and just kept going, all the way to Key West."


Why Key West?

I had visited Key West before, had a couple contacts - including a bartender at the Pier House Chart Room. I auditioned for the Food & Beverage Manager and next thing I knew, I was playing seven nights a week there, making more money than I ever had in politics! I've been here ever since." 


I've heard your music described as "Beach Folk"

"That came from a music critic in Pennsylvania about 10 or 15 years ago. I can't remember if he was reviewing a cd or a show, but I thought it was pretty accurate. I think Trop Rock is a good descriptive term, but I'm not really 'rock'. I've always been more of an acoustic player, don't have steel drums on my records".


I told you earlier how I, like many people, first heard you on Radio Margaritaville. "Lucky Enough" was one of the few "non-Buffett" tunes they played. How did that come about?

"I had submitted some songs to Radio Margaritaville - back before Sirius/XM, they were more open to accepting and playing music from independent artists. At the same time, Sirius had a show - I think it was called 'Vacation Station' - and they were also playing a couple of my songs. Because I already had a relationship, I was fortunate enough that my songs made the transition when Sirius took over RM. Radio Margaritaville continues to be great to me. Without them and the airplay, I would not be able to tour some of the places I do."


Let's talk about your most recent cd, "Row Me Home". You have some pretty impressive people on it; Russ Kunkel has played with EVERYBODY; Jackson Browne, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and, of course, he's done several albums with Jimmy Buffett. Dean Parks has played guitar with some of the biggest names in the business - Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Billy Joel... and Leland Sklar is one of the top bass playing sidemen of all time. Some pretty heavy names. How did you hook up with them?

"That's all thanks to (Coral Reefer) Peter Mayer. I've known Peter for over 20 years. One day he called to let me know he was on the way down to Key West to work on some songs with Russ and wanted to introduce me. I knew who Russ was, of course, he had played on some of my favorite records, but I had never met him. We had dinner at Blue Heaven and hit it off. We found we had alot of things in common, including politics. Over the two months they were here recording, Russ and I spent many late nights at Louie's Backyard planning ways to fix the world's problems.."

Some "Grand Bar Schemes?"

"Exactly. I don't think we ever actually fixed any of them, but we did come up with a few songs. "Bank Of Bad Habits", which Russ wrote and Jimmy recorded, came from one of those conversations - I got credited for 'inspiration'. Russ and I kept in touch over the years, and one day he told me 'When you do another cd, come out to LA. I'd like to produce it!'


How did Lee Sklar and Dean Parks end up on it?

"Russ knows all those guys, has played with them. He's very organized - had everything all planned out before I ever got there. Some of the background singers had been in rehearsal for the Michael Jackson tour - the last one, when he died. They would rehearse with Michael, then come over to our studio. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to work with all of them".


What is your songwriting process?

"I keep a journal with phrases and pieces of things. When it comes time to write, I have to set aside time to do it, somewhere very quiet. I'll pull the journal out and turn them into songs. I consider myself a storyteller. It's a form of self expression for me. If you're a Nashville songwriter, trying to write commercial hits, the process may be a little different."


In "4 Good Dogs" you say you're a pessimist. But, alot of your songs are about moving on -looking forward, not back.

"That's an interesting observation. I've never looked at it like that. I guess that's my dark sense of humor from being part Irish. Bad things happen all the time but you get past it. One thing that shaped my life alot happened when I was about 15. I lost an uncle. He was a great guy, only in his 40's. One day, he went to the hospital for some minor thing, caught an infection and died. I realized how short your time is, that you have to live it. One day you're playing golf, the next you're dead. That has affected the way I've lived my life since. Recently, I told my grandmother that story, that it had a big influence on me. She said, 'I was afraid that it had!'"


Do you spend alot of time on the road?

"Last year we put over 30,000 miles on our van. And that doesn't count, trains, planes and other automobiles! I still play at the Pier House and Margaritaville in Key West, but the rest of the time I'm on the road. In a perfect world, all I would do is tour eight months a year, then take the Winter off. But, I have to play every month to keep my hands limber. There's a certain rhythm to the road, if a tour is set up properly. James Taylor talked about it. Travel time, the hotel, dinner, the gig. It keeps other distractions aside. And we're lucky enough to have a fan base that comes to see us. Plus, we get to play some great venues - like Ram's Head in Annapolis, Md. I love places like that, small venues with great sound."


You've played shows with Jimmy Buffett and Carol King. Any body else you'd like to play with?

"I love playing with Peter Mayer. He's amazing. Not just a great player, but a great person. And, I figure, I just finished making a cd with Russ Kunkel, Lee and Dan. Where do I go from there?!"



Let's talk about some of your songs...
Spoiler Alert! Those of you who hope to see Scott at a House Concert this year and want to wait to hear his stories there, you may want to skip this part of the interview.


4 Good Dogs
"I was in a rut about 8-9 years ago, in a cynical mood, had a case of island fever. I was out walking my dog, it was a beautiful day in Key West. I remember thinking 'If all you have is a few good dogs in your life, things aren't so bad'."

Lucky Enough
"I've spent my whole life near the water. It can be expensive to live, even to vacation, near the water. But, if you love the ocean, you have it in your heart. John Kennedy talked about it. So, this song is about that -  that interesting relationship we have with the ocean and how lucky you are if you have the chance to live on or around the water".

Heart Of A Beach Town
"I went back up to New Hampshire around 2002 to do some work in the Secretary of State's office. I was staying on the water in North Hampton. Now, Key West is a great place, but it's small and can get crazy - always something going on, people coming to visit. There isn't alot of solace, time for self-reflection there. I loved that quiet of a New Hampshire winter on the water and wrote that song."

Walking On Thin Ice
"I had a good friend, Marty, who was going through a rough time, a divorce. One night he said 'What the hell, if you're gonna walk on thin ice, you might as well dance'. I had never heard that! I asked him if he had come up with it and he told me he read it on the wall at the Green Parrot (bar in Key West)."

Blow Me Down To Cayo Hueso
"My grandfather came from Ireland and moved to the coast of Newfoundland, to a little fishing village called Blow Me Down. I finally got a chance to visit there about 7-8 years ago and started thinking about my voyage, from my family's beginnings in the town of Blow Me Down all the way to my current home in Cayo Hueso (Key West). I love lyrics that have double meanings."

Women and Grapes
"Russ and I were having dinner at a Tai Restaurant in Los Angeles. We were talking about the fact that we weren't hunters. If we had to rely on our hunting skills to eat, we'd starve. We'd be gatherers instead. And I said, yeah, I'd gather women and grapes!"


http://www.scottkirby.com/

http://russellkunkel.com/

http://www.petermayer.com/

http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/

http://www.pierhouse.com/Key_West/index.asp

http://greenparrot.com/

http://www.louiesbackyard.com/

http://www.ramsheadtavern.com/