UGA Alum
Raised in:
Athens, Georgia
Lives in:
Charlottesville, Virginia
Favorite thing about Athens:
I’ve loved the music scene since high school. I grew up loving Widespread Panic and R.E.M and can’t wait to go back and see my first show in the new Georgia Theatre.
Now would ya look at that:
Vineyard Vines Uga Christmas tie, Wallabees by Clarks.
Photographed in Marble Falls, TX
Raised in:
Mom: Corpus Christi, Texas
Daughter: Spring, Texas
Lives in:
Mom: Spring, Texas
Daughter: Nashville, Tennessee
Favorite southern novel:
Mom: Gone With the Wind.
Daughter: To Kill a Mockingbird. It was one of my first true convictions of injustice as a teenager and I try and re-read it every summer to remind myself of how I felt the first time…and who doesn’t love Atticus Finch?
Now would ya look at that:
As we were all getting ready for a rehearsal dinner in Marble Falls, I noticed that my best friend and her mom had essentially put on the same outfit and both looked adorable. Both pairs of boots are Lucchese from Allens Boots in Austin.
Photographed in Jasper, GA
Raised in:
Tomball, Texas
Lives in:
Jasper, Georgia
Favorite southern beer:
Abita beer from Abita Springs, Louisiana. I haven’t had a beer from there that I haven’t liked, except for Purple Haze.
Now would ya look at that:
When Mark put on his Cash Robinson polo for the first time, I heard him from the other room say “Oh man, this shirt fits like a dream!” He favors his Cash Robinson Silk Reserves over his other polos because of the comfortable lightweight material. “I’ve never been a polo shirt guy because of how constricting they always seem to be. I feel like I’m always pulling down the sleeves because they ride up, but I never do that with these.”
The fairly new Kentucky clothing company is inspired by the southern lifestyle seen in Kentucky’s bourbon and horse racing. When they approached me about doing a giveaway, I quickly jumped on board since it’s a product Mark wears and promotes. Their purpose is to “celebrate the time-honored traditions of the track and others throughout the world, through our apparel.” They accomplish this by producing Small Batch Apparel Collections in limited quantities and will be introducing new products in the Spring in addition to their “Silks Reserves” Polos.
How about a chance to win an Ultimate Cash Pack this week, including a polo, hat, croakie and koozie? To enter, do the following:
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” – Buddy the Elf
Every year I look forward to the day after Thanksgiving for one reason and one reason only: hitting play on my Christmas playlist. It’s amazing how something I love so much can make me so unhappy until that day, and once it comes, it’s just about all I listen to for the next month. The classics, the Santa anthems, the new originals that each year brings, the glorious hymns, all of ’em. From Run-DMC to Céline Dion, Wham! to George Strait, Jimmy Buffett to my newest holiday guilty pleasure, Justin Bieber, my list is ever growing and ever joyful.
Music Mondays are aimed to share solely southern artists in an effort to keep this blog authentic to its name. I’d be lying, however, if I said that all of my favorite music was southern based. It’s pretty easy for me to stick to my own “rules” when I’m blogging one song a week, but when I sat down to start picking out some Christmas favorites (both new and old), the list of non-southern artists grew. I figured hey, it’s Christmas, let’s spread the love! Even though not every song in this “series” will be by a southern artist, I will specify who is, as well as point you in the direction of snagging some free music when available.
With all that being said, it’s time to get merry.
The Weepies “All That I Want” from their Happiness album or The Winter’s Night mix. If this is the first you’ve heard of The Weepies, I highly suggest digging into their music after you enjoy the rest of these Christmas tunes. As NPR once said, “The Weepies couldn’t write a bad song if they tried.”
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from A Neighborly Christmas, available for free on Noise Trade until Christmas! This version takes the cake for my favorite of this 75 year old duet (make sure to check out the music video). I highly recommend you catch their Christmas Tour as it’s of course spreading the joy around the south (we’ll be at the Atlanta show!) Bonus: both Drew and Ellie have been featured here and I can assure you that you’ll both see and hear them again here in the future.
My Morning Jacket “Xmas Time Is Here Again” from Does XMas Fiasco Style. It wasn’t until I saw this Kentuckian combo perform on VH1 Storytellers that I got hooked. Jim James’s voice is one of a kind, so it’s no figure that I’m a fan of their collection of unique Christmas songs, the one featured here being my absolutely favorite.
Keb’ Mo’ “Jingle Bell Jamboree” from his EP, The Spirit of Christmas. Keb ‘Mo’ lives in Nashville and is one of my favorite old fashioned style blues singers. He always does a solid job of “keeping his sound contemporary with touches of soul and folksy storytelling.”
David Crowder Band “The First Noel” from their new album, Oh For Joy. This version instantly became a favorite when I first heard it five days ago, as Crowder’s music tends to do when he records classics. This album is a refreshing take on Christmas favorites, blending folk, bluegrass, pop, rock and even some electronic dance rhythms to make it very much worth downloading. Bonus: they’re from Texas.
Until next Monday, follow the tweets for more Christmas song recommendations throughout the week!
Ole Miss Alum
Photographed by Danny Klimetz
Raised in:
Athens, Alabama
Lives in:
Boston, Massachusetts
Favorite Ole Miss Tradition:
I love the literary tradition. Faulkner, Morris, Brown, Hannah, etc, for as long as the eye can see.
Now would ya look at that:
This is Micah. He and his wife Marianna started Old Try, a Southern shop North of Mason & Dixon’s. They print up “love letters to the South and send them home” and have some extremely beautiful products.
When Micah was thinking of how to dress-up for football games now that he is a “grown up,” he looked back into yearbooks. His wife made him the letter sweater (one of my favorite items featured thus far on this blog!) The saddle shoes are vintage Johnston & Murphy. Micah says “shoe-shiners always get a kick out of them: ‘Only grade school girls and 80 year old lawyers wear these. And you are neither one.'”
Photographed in Austin, TX
Raised in:
East Hartford, Connecticut
Lives in:
Austin, Texas
What brought you down south:
Being down south, or Texas for that matter, is completely random for me. I was working as the marketing director for an experience based company on Martha’s Vineyard. Firefly Vodka was one of our clients so at the end of the season they offered me the opportunity to move down to Austin to help revamp their market share against a local competitor.
Now would ya look at that:
Since moving to Austin, he has also become the Marketing Director for Chuck & Jake, an Austin-based company founded by Chuck Freeman and Jake Hiller who have rethought the pocket. Founded in 2009, they set out to transform the traditional pocket tee to encompass the varied and youthful vibe of Austin, stating that “everyone deserves a pocket.” He is wearing their mossy green polo with a cream plaid pocket, part of the upcoming Winter 2011 collection. For any Texas fans who may be reading, check out their Game-Day Polo, it’s my personal favorite.
South Carolina Alum
Raised in:
Columbia, South Carolina
Lives in:
Austin, Texas
Favorite thing about game week:
The entire Friday afternoon to Sunday morning experience: tailgating with friends and family, the food, the music, and the way it all enhances the game day experience. Win or lose, we’ll party until three in the morning and then regret it on Sunday.
Now would ya look at that:
Sockless in pebble grain double monks from Park & Bond and argyle sweater bought ten years ago from Granger Owings in Columbia. Head over to his Posterous page and get lost in good looks.
Photographed in Jasper, GA
Raised in:
Spring, Texas
Lives in:
Jasper, Georgia
Favorite thing about living in Georgia:
Living in a place with all four seasons is so wonderful. In Texas, it was hot, and then every now and then, really cold. When I lived in Colorado, it was cold and then sometimes warm. Here, it’s everything, and most of the time, when it’s supposed to be.
Now would ya look at that:
Making a bouquet from the field next to our house, mainly as an excuse to get outside on a dreary evening and wear my Hunter Boots.
Photographed in Atlanta, GA
Raised in:
Metro Atlanta
Lives in:
Atlanta, Georgia
Favorite southern past time:
A few years ago I got into bird and waterfowl hunting and really enjoy both. I decided to learn more about the best rifles and optics and from there my passion blossomed. Though living in Atlanta, it is somewhat difficult to find opportunities to go, I still manage every now and then. It’s a great way to get outside and to enjoy the weather and being in nature. It’s also a great social activity since those types of hunting don’t require as much sitting in silence as deer or turkey hunting. Plus, shooting a rifle never gets old.
Now would ya look at that:
Trip of A Trip Down South at the Social Primer Brooks Brothers Atlanta event. Trip is wearing a Harris Tweed jacket he found years ago from an estate sale in Mountain Brook. “It’s a 3-button sack style jacket, it’s warm, and I like the way it fits. Wearing it is something that I look forward to when the weather starts to get colder.”
Photographed in Atlanta, GA
Raised in:
Tallahassee, Florida
Lives in:
Tallahassee, Florida
Favorite thing about being an artist in the south:
Great subject matter from the piney red hills to the coastal marshes, how can you go wrong?
Now would ya look at that:
One of the highlights of the Social Primer Brooks Brothers Atlanta event was getting to chat with William Lamb. It was his Hunt Scene pants, designed from pieces of wallpaper from his grandparents farmhouse, that Cooper Ray of Social Primer saw and loved during the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston. The Hunt Scene fabric is now lining the limited edition Brooks Brothers Tailgate Blazer, Cooper’s newest collaboration with Brooks Brothers (if you haven’t seen his bow ties, take a look now). As for the rest of William’s good look above, a fifteen year old Brooks Brothers blazer along with a classic Brooks Brothers repp stripe bow tie.
Head over to the Facebook album to see a few more images from the event.