Back Down South

Christmas Down South – Day 1 – Ledbury

It’s time for SEVEN DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS! Seven! We’re kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols…a Ledbury shirt. Paul Trible and Paul Watson started the company from a refurbished tobacco warehouse in Richmond, Virginia in December 2009. The two graduated with Oxford MBAs at the height of the financial crisis, turning them from finance to fine fabrics which gave them to the opportunity to work on a real passion. Ledbury is dedicated to quality and fit. “Our shirts will look better, feel better and last longer than anything else in your closet.” For Christmas dinner, a Ledbury man will hunt, clean, and cook the Christmas turkey himself – all with unflinching poise, perfect execution and remaining well dressed the entire time. True story.

Want one? It’s this simple: leave a comment on this post with what shirt you’d like to win. A winner will be chosen at random and announced on December 17th!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED – CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHER PUTT  FOR WINNING!*

Merry Music Monday – Vol 7

 “Blast this Christmas music. It’s joyful and triumphant.” – The Grinch

holly

 

1. Stream: Over the Rhine – “Darlin’ (Christmas is Coming)”
02_darlin_christmas_is_coming
… on Snow Angels (free on NoiseTrade), Over the Rhine‘s second full length Christmas album. This vibe just makes me so happy.

2. Stream: The Ones and Nines – “Merry Christmas Baby”
06 Merry Christmas Baby
… on Mint 400 Records Presents a Very Merry Christmas Compilation (iTunes). The Ones and Nines bring some rhythm and blues to the Otis Redding/Charles Brown classic.

3. Stream: Marcia Ball – “Christmas Fais Do Do”
10 Christmas Fais Do Do
… on Alligator Records’ Genuine Houserockin’ Christmas (iTunes). Put a little Cajun in your Christmas. Marcia Ball gets the award my favorite track on the compilation.

4. Stream: Duke of Norfolk – “Lovely Winter”
The Duke of Norfolk – Lovely Winter
… on European Robin (here – track for $.50 here). This song is poetry and was the first Duke of Norfolk song I’d heard. I’m now a fan.

5. Stream: Roman Candle – “It’s Christmas. Go on and say hello.” 
07_its_christmas_go_on_and_say_hello
… get the single for free here. One of the best songs Roman Candle has recorded…in my opinion.

holly

Subscribe to Go Christmas on Spotify for more Merry Music.

Hunter

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Meet Hunter, the man behind The Hood Shop and Prinstant Replays.
Now, get your learn on…and enter to win some goodies.

Raised/lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite thing about Nashville:
It’s impossible not to say the people. With family in town, friends from pre-school, awesome people that I don’t know how I met, and lots of incredible new people to Nashville, the community here is second to none. There’s also a lot of creative innovation going on. People are doing things differently, and I dig that.

What inspired The Hood Shop:
I needed Christmas gifts last year and had seen these typography maps for other cities, so I made some and gave them to friends. With a nice response, I added a paypal purchase button on my blog, and guaranteed delivery by Christmas. This led to my fantastic mother and I delivering prints in tubes all over the city on Christmas eve. Since then, it’s grown to a full online shop with products available at two wonderful local shops.

What inspired Prinstant Replays:
The feeling you get when your team makes “that play” that will be remembered forever. For instance, when I busted through my friend’s dad’s screen door, removed my shirt and spun it over my head like a helicopter running through the neighborhood after Kevin Dyson took it to the house on the Bills. Rather than a video of your favorite play, I wanted to capture that moment in a design. I felt like it would be the perfect man-gift.

…which is your favorite Prinstant Replay:
The Beast Quake. That name is incredible. And that run is even better. The Seahawks color scheme is one of my favorites in sports as well.

Now would ya look at that:

BONUS:
Hunter wants to give away some prints! Leave a comment on this post telling us which Hood Shop or Prinstant Replay print you want. FIVE winners will be chosen at random and announced on Saturday, December 8th.

DOUBLE BONUS:
Use code BACKDOWNSOUTH for 15% off all orders at The Hood Shop. The discount is good through the end of the year!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED – CONGRATULATIONS TO REN, LESLIN, KELLY, VIRGINIA AND JOHN ADAM FOR WINNING!*

Christian

Photographed in Glen St. Mary, FL

Raised in:
Raleigh, North Carolina

Lives in:
Jacksonville, Florida

Favorite spot of Florida:
Definitely St. Augustine. It has so much history, fabulous restaurants, and I love the laid back beach vibe.

Now would you look at that:
Christian is a hair stylist and makeup artist based out of Jacksonville.

Merry Music Monday – Vol 6

 “Christmas is awesome. First of all you get to spend time with people you love. Secondly, you can get drunk and no one can say anything. Third, you give presents. What’s better than giving presents? And fourth, getting presents. So, four things. Not bad for one day. It’s really the greatest day of all time.” – Michael Scott

holly

1. Stream: Andrew Belle – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
01 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
… get the single on iTunes. One of the best Christmas songs, and this version, released last year, became my favorite the first time I heard it. It’s hard to imagine a better version ever being made. When I listened for the first time, I cried. Andrew Belle has turned a song that tugs on my heartstrings into a song that rips them out in only the way beautiful music can. It’s perfect.

2. Stream: Matt Pond PA “Holiday Road”
Holiday Road
… on Winter Songs EP (iTunes). National Lampoon’s Vacation made this song famous, and Matt Pond PA turns this not-really-a-Christmas-song into something that just feels wintery.

3. Stream: Ellery “Going Gone”
02 Going Gone
… on Down, Down, Down: A Holiday EP (iTunes). I love how the lyrics paint a beautiful snow day: “Silver flakes halo our faces…we’re all rose and shine…two tracks wandering home, in a thundering snow…back to the fire and wine.” Ellery‘s Holiday EP was released in 2009 and is an all around solid collection of original and classic tunes. It’s getting heavy rotation.

4. Stream: Brave Combo “Feliz Navidad”
12 Feliz Navidad
… on It’s Christmas, Man! (iTunes). Every Christmas playlist needs a great version of “Feliz Navidad,” and this is my favorite. One of my most unforgettable nights in college was dancing in the Denton square to Brave Combo‘s Christmas concert my senior year. The hometown band always draws a huge crowd and puts on an incredible show, and that night goes down in my Top Ten Dance Floor Dominating Moments.

5. Stream: Matthew Mayfield “It’s Christmastime Again”
It_s Christmastime Again
… on A Rock By the Sea Christmas::Volume 3 (iTunes…but you can get this song for free here). Matthew Mayfield is one of the best singer/songwriters out there. The man is just incredible. Make sure to also snag his EP, Maybe Next Christmas, on iTunes. And then if you haven’t yet…listen to everything else he has ever done.

holly

New Merry Music goodness added err’day to my Spotify playlist, Go Christmas.

Eric

Photographed in Nashville, TN by Jamie Clayton

Raised in:
Ozark Mountains; Branson, Missouri to be exact.

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite music venue in Nashville:
Gotta be the open air of the Full Moon Pickin’ Party at the Equestrian Barn south of Nashville. Comes one night a month when it’s warm enough. There’ll be several headliners on stage but the fun is in the small circles of musicians jamming under the trees. Always a big crowd of friends and families and some of the most talented musicians I’ve seen.

Now would ya look at that:
Meet Eric Staples, an incredibly talented freelance director and photographer who specializes in 8mm.

Merry Music Monday – Vol 5

“Yes! Yes I do! I like Christmas! I LOVE Christmas!” – Ebenezer Scrooge 

holly

It’s that time of the year again – freakinChristmasmusicallday time! Last year I gave you four volumes of Merry Music Monday: five songs every Monday, and if it didn’t make your life, I’m not sure you have a heart. I’m picking up where I left off. Annnnnnd go!

1. Stream: Green River Ordinance “Silent Night”
01_silent_night
…on both A Green River Ordinance Christmas EP (iTunes) and on The Music Bed‘s Fireplace Songs holiday sampler (free on NoiseTrade). One of the best versions of “Silent Night” I’ve ever heard.

2. Stream: Sugar & The Hi-Lows “Shake That Gift”
02 Shake That Gift
…on Snow Angel (iTunes). Trent Dabbs and Amy Stroup, the duo behind Sugar & The Hi-Lows, turn everything to gold. This is one of my favorites from their six song Christmas EP…probably because it’s a tad scandalous.

3. Stream: Fiction Family “I Don’t Need No Santa Claus”
01_i_dont_need_no_santa_claus
…on Fiction Family’s Holiday EP (free on NoiseTrade). Will Hodge describes this one perfectly as “landing somewhere between a jaunty bluegrass number and a nostalgic classic Christmas song of the 40s and 50s.”

4. Stream: Old 97’s “Here It Is Christmastime”
01 Here It Is Christmas Time
…on iTunes. It’s Old 97’s singing about Christmas. What else is there to say?

5. Stream: DJ Schmolli “Pumping Up Christmas” 
02 Pumping Up Christmas …on A Very Bootie Christmas 2 (free). Googling “Christmas remixes and mashups” on Saturday changed my life.

holly
Until next Monday, follow the tweets for more Christmas song recommendations throughout the week! You can also subscribe to Go Christmas on Spotify, which is nearing 400 glorious songs.

Catch up on last years Merry Music Monday posts: Vol 1 + Vol 2 + Vol 3 + Vol 4

Happy Thanksgiving

Photographed in Jasper, GA

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! We know it’s tomorrow, c’mon. But we also think everyones computers should be off on Thanksgiving, as you should be stuffing your face and enjoying friends and/or family. So today is our day to tell you Happy Thanksgiving.

The photo above is an outtake from the photos we snapped of ourselves for Southern Living. We are absolutely thrilled to have been featured on their blog, The Daily South. Check out the post and interview here. We chat about the blog, Southern fashion and our influences.

Now go prepare for full bellies.

Football Friday | Rah, Rah, TCU

TCU Alum
Photographed by Jamie Clayton 

Raised in:
Austin, Texas

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennesse

Favorite game day memory:
Heading out to Pasadena for the New Year in 2011 to watch TCU play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. That place is incredible – best venue out there. TCU won 21-19 in what ended up being a great game and capping off an undefeated season.

Now would ya look at that:
Nick, Nisolo Shoes Co-Founder & VP of Business Development.

Glamping

On Saturday, some Atlanta friends drove North, and some Nashville friends drove South, and together the seven of us dominated Fort Mountain State Park with one word: glamping. Yes, we slept in tents, but we did not leave home without three cars full of gear for one night including proper lighting and music, a well stocked bar, cheese selection, homemade chili, partybooth, camp chic attire and hearts ready for glamorous adventure. We glamped hard, and everyone around us was jealous.

Will: J.L. Powell hat, Persol sunglasses, Gap waffle shirt, J.Crew khakis, Timex watch, Bean Boots.
Allyson: Tory Burch sunglasses, Target flannel, Banana Republic puffer vest, J Brand jeans, Bean Boots.

Sarah: Plaid and stripes, oversized thrifted men’s Target shirt, J.Crew bubble necklace.
Mark: J.Crew beanie, Buffalo check flannel, 9 year old beat-to-hell Carhartt’s, Jack Donnelly koozie, Bean Mocs.

There is much more where that came from, but you’ll have to wait until the next issue of SouthernLeague Magazine, which will include our full glamping details and story.

BONUS: The official Glamping playlist on Spotify.

Page 39 of 56
1 … 37 38 39 40 41 … 56