Music and Booze With Mo

Chris Hannah stepped behind the bar at Arnaud's French 75 in New Orleans and became a bartending legend. He came to NOLA not only to work in these beautiful old places, but to live in a town where you could be anything you wanted to be, which for him meant a snazzy dresser, a blues connoisseur, and owner of spots Manolito and the award winning Jewel of the South. Join us as we travel the Mississippi for tales of juke joints, Robert Johnson's many graves, and the rebirth of classic cocktails in the South. Listen to Hannah's Blues here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2iDMl6WNhPueVKYJRIjBQo?si=3a778961ac9a41a2

Roberto Lares got his first barbacking gig after he finished a night of playing trumpet in his jazz band and then offered to help the venue since they were down a person at the bar. Now he's mixing drinks at Houston favorite, Johnny's Gold Brick, making playlists, exploring his love of whiskey, and still loving jazz. He also gave us a 19 hour playlist to listen to while you chill out with a drink here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Zn5tkjDK3ewCF984mudEj?si=7c3e83a1e4694895

Adam Demerath, currently keeping tropical libations afloat at Brooklyn's Sunken Harbor Club, tells us about his tiki road trip and shares some of the tunes he listened to along the way. Hear how his time running beverage programs at classy cocktail bars and throwing elaborate home tiki parties landed him a gig at one of the best tropical spots in the U.S. And check out his rockin' road trip playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0FLCjo5cCRHxVdkKy0Gu73?si=a387ed092e9b4441

Informally appointed as a "ginnoiseur" and currently the Sr. Gin Ambassador for Beam Suntory, Keli Rivers has a vast knowledge of gin as well as a massive collection (which only rivals her record collection). Not only was she the first hire at gin temple Whitechapel in SF, but she also served as KALX, Berkeley's music director about the same time. Listen to the podcast for gin lessons, and her musical ones are here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1tCZ7wpbuAjc93urdPAimE?si=f25fd4fbd8fa4c57

John Peet tells us his story about starting as a bartender in Cincinnati, winding through LA, and ending up as the bar owner of Jane's Hideaway in Nashville. Crafting cocktails, running a music venue, and rescuing a beat up piano are just some of the tales (the ghost of Boots Randolph?) we'll hear on this episode. And check out his Friends of Jane playlist, featuring acts that have graced the Jane stage: https://open.spotify.com/user/shebmo

Aaron Sparks - bartender, entrepreneur, & self professed band nerd - talks about his flirtation with music production before realizing he was already deep in the hospitality world. He moved from passing out music swag in Akron, Ohio clubs to starting his cocktail catering company, MXOLOGY21. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tZGepyYp2aNXxDGo7pDQz?si=7868103729fb4cdb

Kelso Norris, beverage director of LA's Genever (nominated for 2022's Outstanding Bar Program by the James Beard Foundation), guides us through her years of becoming a bartender while fronting a band in NYC during the heady '00s resurgence of both craft cocktails and indie rock of all sorts. Stay tuned to hear a track from her previous band, Una Lux, and check out her playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4vlueHyqBcAQmTUEs6bFTk?si=bbe01877e7d14c94