Published in The Riff·2 days agoMember-onlyDepeche Mode: The Ultimate PrimerForty Years of Controversy, Stardom, Influence, and Experimentation — I’m driving 120 mph down a quiet south Georgia highway. Music blasting. The sunroof’s open and my hair is swirling. My best pal is in the front passenger seat and two other close friends lounge in the back. We’re one week away from high school graduation and our parents have…Music10 min readMusic10 min read
Published in The Riff·6 days agoMember-only80s Stylin’ and Profilin’A BMT Mixtape for the Riff — My longtime Medium pal, Jon Scott, recently had his 39th birthday. In his own humorous way, he shared his inevitable midlife crisis concerns. Because I’m not normal, I pretty quickly landed on this concept for my latest mixtape: a birthday wish to Jon with unsolicited fashion advice. Today’s mixtape features…Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Published in The Riff·Mar 4Member-only1991: One of the Greatest Years in MusicWarning: This Story Includes Exactly Zero Grunge Songs — I’m thrilled to finally knock out this story to celebrate the forgotten year of some of the greatest music ever created, especially for my Gen-X cohort: 1991! If you’re looking for grunge, this story isn’t for you. Nary a flannel shirt or grungy dude can be found today. OK, that’s…Music9 min readMusic9 min read
Published in The Riff·Feb 14Member-onlyMy Musical Love Letter to Burt BacharachA BMT Mixtape for the Riff — I’ve culled a special collection of my very favorite performances of some of pop history’s best songs by the master, Burt Bacharach. I mean, sure, you can enjoy these songs on a cursory level, but it’s worth taking a little extra time to absorb the talent on display properly. This…Music5 min readMusic5 min read
Jan 29Member-onlyThree Dudes Told Me Not to Move to SavannahI’m Doing It Anyway — Me: “I’m considering moving to Savannah once my son graduates from high school in May. That’s my loose plan anyway.” Bumble Eligible Bachelor: “Can I give you my honest opinion?” Me: “Of course.” Eligible Bachelor: “Savannah is poor and dirty. It doesn’t have anything going for it. Nothing upscale. You…Self6 min readSelf6 min read
Jan 4Member-onlyThe Beauty of Small RisksLet’s Celebrate Those, Too — My life is small. I’m never going to save the planet or invent something. I’m not the person who everybody notices. I don’t light up a room. In fact, I’ve had a number of people from my teens admit they didn’t see me back then. They're apologetic about it but…Movies3 min readMovies3 min read
Published in The Riff·Jan 3Member-onlyBawdy BabesA BMT Mixtape for the Riff — It’s taken me a few weeks, but I promised y’all I’d knock out this particular mixtape. As I was watching the recent documentary on Sheryl Crow, Sheryl, I was inspired. Very quickly, I landed on the word bawdy. But through my lens. Bawdy babes. Fierce, independent, scrappy, naturally beautiful, compelling…Music4 min readMusic4 min read
Dec 26, 2022Member-onlyThe Icky Homeboy and Other DudesMy Dating Recap for 2022: Part 2 — After carefully honing my dating rulebook for nearly a decade post-separation/divorce, I approached 2022 differently. I’m not sure I was intentionally tossing out every rule and boundary. It’s probably more accurate to say I was revisiting the rulebook due to the timing of several events: turning 50, getting dumped by…Dating9 min readDating9 min read
Dec 17, 2022Member-onlyI Had a Date with the Fonz This YearMy 2022 Dating Recap: Part 1 — He peeled off his t-shirt exposing a few tattoos and strong shoulders. I’d met him for the first time about an hour earlier. He’d pounded two beers, grabbed me for a kiss, and suggested a walk along the beach on the hot August day. I was in a pretty summery…Dating6 min readDating6 min read
Published in The Riff·Dec 13, 2022Member-onlyHeaven’s Choir Added Two More Pop SongbirdsA BMT Mixtape for the Riff — When I think of Irene Cara and Christine McVie ascending to Heaven, I like to imagine Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, and Karen Carpenter greeting them in song. Who cares if that’s in any way accurate? It’s a lovely thought, no? If you’re me, creating a mixtape like this…Music4 min readMusic4 min read
