Friday Playlist...

Time for some fresh pop-punk on this glorious Friday! This list I curated were some favorite sugary jams I found this week through Apple Music. Its a short sweet list that keeps the tempo up! Enjoy here!

Becoming my own boss...

“What the hell am I going to do with my life?” - Me.

Over the last year or so I have really focused in on what I want to do with my life, and I am coming up short. And honestly, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I am just happy to be motivated to change. This year I have committed to reading a least one book a month, replacing any wasted time I have scrolling on my phone checking out my friends photos, to see if I can find an answer. Someone recently told me that the average CEO has roughly 7 forms of income. My plan is to get there. Now...how?

Coming from and still being in the middle class I want to figure out how the wealthy got wealthy and how they continued to stay there. I have turned to multiple books, podcast and am continually doing research about how I can make my money work for me. I am finding myself in a classic ‘Where do I start’ scenario. Do I invest in property? And if so, what does that actually mean and where do I get started? What the hell is a bond and what stocks should I get involved in? Should I open a franchise? Where can I find a mentor to guide me?

Help.

-YourFriendMatt

Friday Playlist...

This one is not out of the usual for me. I love pop rock, pop puck, alternative-indie jams. This playlist has a few of my favorites and even some stuff I haven't heard yet...and better yet it's all about jumping in the car and hitting the road!

Enjoy!

-YourFriendMatt

29...

"Holy shit. It's my 29th birthday." - Me

When I was a kid, I thought my parents were old and wise beyond their years. By the time they were 29, I was 5 or 6. We live in different times now. I feel my generation is spending more time experiencing life and trying to plan a little more. We kind of have to…but that is a whole different conversation.

The last year of my 20's, and I am excited. I use to care about getting older. When I turned 23 or 24 I thought my life was over. I broke down in a diner 3 miles from my childhood home at 2am. I just stared at my Liberty Bell shaped waffle, “I am so old, what have I done with my life.” What the hell was I thinking? 

As I get older now I realize I don't feel any different. I mean, sometimes, I think 2007 was last year and I haven't felt older than 16 for as long as I can remember. I feel I am more mature now, well sometimes, dick and fart jokes will never go out of style. I feel I have learned lessons and know how valuable a dollar is now more than ever (thanks LA…you have taught me you can change anyone for anything at anytime.).

I woke up on my 29th birthday surrounded by loved ones 3,000 miles where we all met. It is a great feeling. Waking up in Anaheim...about to hit Disneyland...this is a great day.

-YourFriendMatt

Friday Playlist...

Let's Chill...

This playlist goes out to the end of the week. That time we all have right before we clock out for the weekend and the joy that comes to us as we walk out the doors of the business world and melt into the Friday night.

Grab a wine, a beer, a whiskey and float away...

-YourFriendMatt

The 14th...

"Friggin' Valentine's Day."  - Me

I never really understood or had any respect for Valentine's Day. It just seemed off to me. I had very little patience when I was younger for trying to impress girls. Either we were into each other or not, and It didn't bother me either way. I think the problem was I hadn't found someone worth spending that kind of time and energy on. 

Jamie and I have been through a lot. After knowing each other since high school, probably grade school, you learn how to make each other happy...as well as learn how to make each other more mad than you ever thought humanly possible...which can be highly entertaining. We challenge each other, support each other and try not to end the day in an argument. Communication is key and we have learn (and are still learning) how to be humble enough to admit you were wrong, forgive and move on stronger than before.

Jamie - Thanks for supporting me, laughing at me, being a sounding board and holding my hand when I had a rough day. I know I am a dickhead, can be a stubborn prick and often act like a jerk off. I was born that way, but I'm working on it. I look forward to today because you are apart of it. Let's go jump in the van and see where today takes us.

I love you.

-Matt

Playlist Friday...

Looking for some easy-listening, relaxing...but exciting soundtrack this Friday? Boom. Found it. I needed something chill and motivating to get me to work this morning and from the energetic Matt and Kim to the overly chill My Morning Jacket this list does the trick for a TGIF kind of end to your week.

Enjoy!

-YourFriendMatt

Namm 2016...

“Hey, is it cool if I hit these $10,000 drums?” - Me

Noise cancelling cymbals...Sure...Why not?

I recently attended Namm for the first time. My friends tone company SoloDallas was in town to showcase and discuss their 2016 product line. Me, having never attended name before was super excited to come and be part of what they were doing. Since I was there kind of as a guest, but also kind of there to do whatever I wanted, I explored the 4 show rooms floors throughout the Anaheim Convention Center with my friend Ry. And what do you know? Of course they had multiple bars with craft beer for all the musicians of the world to partake in!

Them - Hey! Want your picture taken? Me - Yep.

It was awesome to see all the innovations going on in the worlds of music, recording and playing…not to mention to try it all out.

Saw some guitars that cost more than houses...

Running a bi-coastal media company, BrokenSoundMedia, with my partners, who knows, maybe we will pick up one of the 360 degrees keyboard for some reason.

What the hell is this thing?

-YourFriendMatt

Drumming...

Zach Lind has been teaching me to play drums for as long as I can remember. I hope I did a quarter of a good enough job on this video to compare. Jimmy Eat World's 'Clarity' changed my life and how I sing through drums.

The Stache...

“Sweet mustache.” - Some dude on the street.

I went to shave my mustache after Movember. Right as I was about to clear my upper lip of the joke that is my facial hair I heard a faint, “Don’t shave it, I kind of like it” from Jamie across the room. I looked at myself in the mirror, shrugged with an agreeing smile and put the razor down. I have learned about my mustache over the last few weeks. The left side likes to play ball and stay styled, while right side on the other hand does whatever it wants. I have to give him a pep talk every morning.

I am noticing more and more there is a unspoken bond between gentlemen who take their beards and staches seriously. It’s like how you let someone merge into your lane if you have the same car and shoot them a wave as they pass. Just this week alone I have been complimented by 3 to 4 total strangers with similar staches. I even got a thumbs up/finger gun/wink combo from a random on the street who had an obvious obsession with his stach.

Having something that smells this good under my nose all day is a godsend...

It has been 2 months now and it is getting out of control, I had to do something so I started looking into products that could possibly tame this beast and make me look more gentlemanly. Luckily, Christmas was right around the corner and Jamie hooked it up with some sweet stache accessories to keep me looking fly.

Products I am currently using: Can You HandleBar Wax, Pugilist Beard Balm and my trusty Stache Comb. The trick is you use the comb to straighten it out, apply some balm to the middle and work through and put wax on the ends for hold. Never. Ever. Trim. Just train it.

Thanks for being apart of my first attempt and manly facial hair!

-YourFriendMatt

2016...

“What should we do today?” - Me

We started the year off waking up in Anaheim at Disneyland, me with a slight headache, Jamie with a slight caffeine deficiency. We had spent the night before at Disneyland frolicing like 4 year olds one last time in 2015…but not before splitting a bottle of champagne in our hotel room first…and by splitting I mean she has a glass and I drank the rest…towards the end…straight from the bottle.

We got up - sort of - I found us coffees and a plate of cheap hotel pancakes and we were off to re-enter Disneyland for the first time in 2016, technically the second time in 2016, but who’s counting. We bounced back and forth between the 2 parks and that’s when I received a call. Over the last few months Jamie and I have been looking for an adventure mobile. Something we can cruise in, party in and make memories. The problem was, we are broke, so trying to find something within the $0 to $10 category that wasn’t a used Power-Wheel was becoming an issue. 

See my Instagram for a short video about this ride...@MattBates

Luckily for us, I am a Craigslist guru and have been told I should write a book or open an consulting agency about how to used Craigslist effectively. After searching through, negotiating and losing all hope we found a real diamond in the rough. One of those posts that is almost too good to be true, but we put in an offer 2 days earlier and they accepted. Boom. Win. I got off the phone and we left Disney as fast as we could to go meet up with them before they changed their minds.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present, Big Red...

Americans...#BigRed...

This has been one of the biggest impulse buys and most unplanned thing I have even done, which is not my style, but this thing is too good, we had to jump on it. This year is even more about just jumping, taking risks and continuing to focus on what makes us happy. This van might look like a silly old van no one wants but to us, this is our coast cruiser, the party machine and something that will be worth the story. (Plus, for what we bought it for, we can sell it and make a profit *Thumbs Up*).

Not a bad start to the new year, a day at Disney, cocktails with some great folks and a new addition to the fleet. 

2016, you are shaping up...

-YourFriendMatt

Anyways...

I haven't done a full song drum cover in a bit and this new single from The Starting Line rules. Looking forward to their new release this year, even if it is only 3 songs! Check them out, per-order or support if you want and get nostalgic.

Thanks for watching, give feedback, share and enjoy!

-YourFriendMatt

UFO...

I shot this in Nashville on a long weekend adventure. I love The X Files but this is a little weird.

Follow the light from the upper left of the screen to the center.

UFO? What do you think?

-YourFriendMatt

Nashville Adventure...

“Holy hell. This place is amazing.”

On a recent get away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angles to Nashville, Jamie and I adventured around the ENTIRE city in 4 days. I think we got our moneys worth of what the place has to offer.

We had a layover in Chicago after jumping on the last red-eye from LA. We touched down at 3am, found our next terminal after drowsily running through O’Hare with our carry-ons. We made it to our gate, boarded and then…sat. Yep, stuck in the airport again. It’s not all bad, I’d rather the plane break on the ground than in the air. Evidently the windshield broke and it isn’t a quick fix.

O'Hare - 3am - Who knows what is going on...

2 hours later, and a new plane, we finally landed in Music City. And what did we do first? That’s right, we got hot chicken. If you do not know what hot chicken is, don’t worry you don’t have to use your imagination too much. It is just extremely spicy chicken on thick, toasted white bread. Yep, Nashville gets to the point. We visited Zagot rated and televised famous Princes Hot Chicken. We ate and then immediately feel into a food coma from barely any sleep, and the bread-battered, deep-fried goodness that filled our stomachs.

Act like you don't want this meal right now...

We found our hotel after lunch, got a few hotel cocktails and then passed out until 9pm, essentially forfeiting the afternoon. I guess the mix of southern fried delicacies and alcohol can have an effect on your sleep patterns.

…and you thought it was spicy going in…

-YourFriendMatt

Still Standing...

New single posted by these gentlemen this week. 'Still Standing' shows the bands hard-rock side. Starting off with a wall of crunching guitars and vocalists screaming the lyrics we lead to a huge, catchy chorus. I would suggest listening to this to get ready for a fight, going into a meeting or if you just want to win the day. Enjoy!

Getting Our Money's Worth...Part 2...

“Weren’t you here yesterday?” - any random Disneyland cast member.

I have done it. I have spent one month of my life this year visiting Disneyland. I like to think of myself as the reason they raised the prices. We bought our passes on my birthday in January on a whim. Jamie and I do not have any family out here so holidays were a little depressing. Since we had already visited twice over a year (at $300 bucks for tickets for the both of us each time) we figured we would spend our entertainment budget on annual passes to help cheer us up on birthday and special occasions…and since then we have become addicted. 

Taken on my birthday when we got the passes!

We figured even if we went 6 times in a year they would pay for themselves easily. So we got the best passes we could afford, with no blackout dates, percentages off food and merchandise and parking included. I mean when it’s that easy to visit, why not? Going somewhere and knowing you have parking is incentive enough living here. Parking in Los Angeles has become a new level of hell I never thought imaginable. If I can go somewhere and know I have a guaranteed spot and not worry about being towed or ticketed for a small fortune…I am in. Plus, I mean, it’s friggin Disneyland, do you need an incentive to go? It’s the happiest place on Earth.

Taken when my Mom and Sister came out for a visit...and we started drinking...

We have had a year of unforgettable holidays, special occasions, birthdays and random weekends wandering through. I make it a point to yell “Happy Birthday” at anyone wearing a “It’s My Birthday” Disney pin. I have gone on solo trips to experience the park by myself and it is still incredible. It is a bummer they raised the prices so we don’t know if we will be able to renew. It would be a bummer not to have access to it, this was always a dream, like “Oh, they go to Disney a lot, they must be rich.” But, I’m broke and we made it happen. 

Taken from our most recent visit when we dressed up like Burt and Mary...

Glad we got them this year and who knows what next year will bring. I think I got my money’s worth.

Think I can I make it 40 trips?!

-YourFriendMatt

Black Friday...

For the first time in almost a decade...I am off on Black Friday. Having spent my entire career in the mall, it feels incredible to work for an employer that values work-life balance. I was able to drink on Thanksgiving and enjoy time with family and friends last night without worrying about getting up at the ass-crack of dawn, or earlier, to help contribute to mindless American consumerism. The sky is blue, the sun is warm and I plan on going nowhere near a mall.

Year 2...

"Holy shit, I moved across the country 2 years ago today." - Me.

This week, 2 years ago, Jamie and I woke up to what would be any other typical sunny California morning to an empty apartment. Except on this morning we could not have felt more out of place. We slept on a air mattress, had no idea where anything was and the pressure of getting it figured out quickly was upon us. What else were we do to do? Go get coffee.

This was the first photo I took as a Santa Monica citizen...

From there we decided to go max out my credit card on buying a bed and max out her Target card buying all the stupid shit you need for a home...such as tupperware, bath room rugs, extension cords, cleaning supplies etc. Such a bummer to see how much all it cost and realize you are an adult. There was nothing fun on this receipt...but I do love having tupperware for left overs.

But, that was year one. This year was all about figuring out who we are and exploring our surrounding. We kicked the year off celebrating with friends and getting too drunk to remember! We drove up the coast to San Fransisco and it took forever! Someone broke in, I got promoted and we saw the Phillies lose to the Dodgers. I got stuck in the airport for 2 days, we found Randy’s donuts and stayed in an airstream in the middle of Malibu.

I was able to start recording with bands and play shows in historic venues like Whiskey A Go-Go, The Mint and The Viper Room. We found Marty McFly’s house and hung out at the Pawnee Municipal building…its in Pasadena…not Indiana. We became Disneyland Passholders and have gone as often as possible…celebrating most holidays and birthdays there. I even spent Back to the Future day there and then watched all three movies back to back. 

We have explored museums, found Santa Barbara and Laguna Beach. We almost died on a mountain and found some of our favorite restaurants. We were able to catch Back to the Future on the big screen at The Hollywood Bowl with a full orchestra. My mom and sister came for a visit and Jamie and Liv got piercings in Venice…that then got infected and neither of them currently have them in. Met Travis Barker our from of their show at the Roxy. I was able to shoot a music video with a band and I even got to see The Movielife in Ponoma for their reunion show. 

We have made a lot of memories this year, while experiencing the up’s, downs and b-sides of what life has to offer. I look forward to seeing where we are next year…and how many more memories we can make.

-YourFriendMatt

Out of my element...

"Is that Raiden from Mortal Kombat spinning records?" - Me

I walked into the room and immediately felt like a dickhead. (Which honestly, is not that unusual). I was the only one not in Coachella garb or wearing Native America inspired face paint. There was a person (I assume) on the stage wearing something close to what I think a lightning god would wear if he was spinning records. The thing was, halfway through his set I guess the electricity went out for a second and everything skipped. I guess he needs to work on his spin skills (if that is even a thing). Needless to say I was the sore-thumb-basic-late-20's dude hanging by the bar...with a backpack on...in a club. I looked awesome.

Lightning god...

One of my best friends is a DJ and I am very proud of him for filling a room with people to hear his music...and doing it in LA. With a town full of entertainment choices, it is extremely hard to get your friends to leave the west side for a drink, let alone fill a venue full of people to listen to music they may or may not know. Congrats dude. Super proud of you.

Meanwhile, I was there to document and make sure to capture the moment for him. I am an open-minded fellow and was completely out of my element. I have no idea what kids are into now-a-days. There was people there selling crystals (not drugs but, multi-colored rock formations), people lying on the floor, two artists in front of the stage painting murals of god-like creatures, animal costumes and folks wearing ponchos/headband combos. I have no idea what was going on but everyone was super friendly and welcoming. Although the music some of the people were spinning sounded like a group of cyborgs driving a dump truck into a blender, it was a fantastic evening.

Thanks everyone for welcoming me into your world!

-YourFriendMatt

Playlist Friday...

Made this the last time we drove up the coast to San Francisco. Tons a great classic rock gems on here. Check it out and enjoy your weekend!