“This is the definition of “Love Thy Neighbor”.”

— AT

Occasionally you’re thrust into a difficult situation; only to have your actions speak much louder than what you thought they could…

One early Tuesday morning in the first week of March 2020, my telephone rang.
The other end of the line was my mother frantically asking me if I was alright.
In a very dazed and sleepy response, I had found myself rather confused with why she hung up abruptly.

I had checked my phone to see that a Tornado had made touchdown in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now to be fair, I was not staying anywhere near the part of town that had been affected. However several locations that were dear to my heart, had been not just affected; They were destroyed.

Real Talk:
When I first moved down to Nashville on June 4th of 2017… I was homeless.
I came down on a hope, and a prayer that led me to sleep in my car for a few weeks until I made a connection down here and slept on a couch for a few months.
My first home in Nashville, was my mobile home of my 2006 Nissan Altima named “Bill” after a hero of mine: Bill Murray.

We had parked in several neighborhoods from East Nashville, Near Vanderbilt University (which was out of session for the summer), and Lockeland Springs.

Lockeland Springs was one of the neighborhoods that was hit the hardest in Nashville Metro proper.
The other was North Nashville which will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AGAIN as long as I can make sure of it.

After getting a sound off of my close friends to the area of touchdown; I found myself needing to get up and help… Somehow I needed to help.

Thankfully I had recently started a new job with a wonderful team of individuals who had similar passions as I did and allowed me to begin helping those who had just lost almost everything of theirs in a natural disaster.

I do not have particular memories of who started the conversation, I just remember all of us saying “We aren’t missing this opportunity” and piling in the back of a pickup truck to drive to the next area.

After a few days of helping the victims clean up in their respective neighborhoods; I checked my social media (which I had been neglecting the past week) to find a message in my inbox from a producer back home in Pittsburgh.
They had reached out to ask if I would be willing to sit down and have an interview with a Pittsburgh Local News Station WTAE. They wanted someone with Pittsburgh roots and Nashville Wings to report on what they’re doing in a clean up effort and relay it to another event that they could compare it to.

Now WTAE (I know you’re saying) is Home of the ONE AND ONLY, Joe DeNardo. May he rest in Peace.
That’s correct, you wonderful guessing friend! It was the one and the same.

I had collected quite a few bits of video over the few days and I was able to send them in and have an interview which you can find by clicking the button below.

As a Yinzer, who bleeds Black and Gold, has worked on Mt. Washington, has shaken Mario’s hand, and loves a Capp & Egg with an Ice Cold Yueng Draft from Primanti’s… This was basically a dream come true.

I tried not to be nervous but from my face, its easy to see that I was.

Finally, I would not be able to complete this story if I did not give a Big Shoutout to Hambino and King who had given their all in North Nashville in Elizabeth Park near Cockrill St.
If you are still looking for ways to give, please PLEASE check out Gideon's Army:  https://gideonsarmyunited.org/

Also, TREMENDOUS shoutout to West Nashville Dream Center who set up an amazing command center on Osage St. and was able to get help to those who need it in both Osage and Elizabeth Park neighborhoods.
Elle and TJ were amazing at organizing and delegating.

I believe one of the best examples I had heard of dedication is that despite working through the night, that some members of WNDC had to forcefully ask their colleagues to stop and go inside, in order to make sure that they were getting enough rest.

It truly was amazing to see how the community has rallied together... I'm still immensely proud of everyone's drive to come together for their neighbors.

This is the definition of "Love Thy Neighbor".

It’s also very amazing to know that you’re not alone in this whole process.
Some of the most famous Nashville locals helped me pick up debris, or hold up poles as they were clearing underneath.
You may not even believe who I met at the makeshift command center in Lockeland Springs…

But that is a story for another day.

Could you tell I was a bit nervous?

If you know… You know.
To get your picture playing in front of that flag means it’s as real as it gets.

FRANKLIN, TN -
There are few places where I’ve been that I can say I have found a little piece of heaven on earth.
A home, when home feels like its worlds away.
A place where you’re understood and accepted.

I’m lucky enough to find that in the rolling hills outside of Franklin, TN.

Just past the Natchez Trace Parkway, you’ll find a section of Tennessee that is known to locals as a hidden gem.
It is part of the Americana Bermuda Triangle, and lucky me; they let me get lost every Thursday Night.

A place where Country, Blues, Soul, Rap, Reggae, Bluegrass, Rock & Roll…. Basically any kind of music that is performed by Nashville’s Best Musicians come to shine amongst other suns.

My first time performing at Puckett’s in Leiper’s Fork; I showed up around 6pm to find that the list was already way over 20 people.
Hoping to be done and home by 10:00pm CST… I think I went on around 11:45pm.

I begged the woman running the Open Mic (a woman who would soon become a true heroine of mine), Deb Pratt, to just let me play the very last spot on the list.
I promised her: “Miss Debbie, I promise you; I’ll make it worth it. I will not suck if you let me play.”
She let me go on.
She said: “You did not suck.”
Then Let me come back the next week.
Then I came back a few more dozen times…
Always showing up and calling in for my spot with a promise:
”Hi, Miss Debbie! I promise I won’t suck tonight!”
And her unfailing response: “I know you won’t.”

To say this place is Magic… is absolutely true.


But Shhh: Its a secret.



I’ll even tell you how I met a true hero of mine, and Gibson Guitars CEO, JC Curleigh; and offered him to borrow my beloved “Jo” (Pelham Blue 2013 Gibson J45)…

But that is a story for another day.

The Emcee of the Evening every open Mic Night that there is: Deb Pratt … but thats MISS Debbie to you!
I mean this sincerely, I may be more proud of this picture than any others I’ve had taken at Puckett’s.
Miss Debbie has been encouraging me the entire time I have been coming down to Leiper’s Fork.
Truly a woman of God, and she shows His love in her own loving way.

AT playing The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington DC: 2016

WASHINGTON, DC -
I had moved to Washington DC to pursue a career as a Sous Chef with a rather prestigious restaurant group. Less than 2 weeks after moving… The Cherry Blossoms started budding, which means (to a Yinzer) “Time to go explore this new foreign city!”

I wanted to ask Jenny if she wanted to “… walk around our nation’s capitol.” (You’re welcome for that reference.)
After about 2 hours of meandering around the tidal basin, amazed at how vast Washington DC truly is; I heard music. LIVE music.
I was so excited.

I checked out the schedule and had a paralyzing realization…
There was a 30 minute time slot open with no musical acts.

What do I do? I don’t want to just impose on a NATIONAL *Historical* tradition in a city where I only knew 6 people… 7 if you count the Bus Driver on the Crystal City route.

Wait… I ONLY know 7 people. WHY NOT?!

I found the last artist to go on, a DC multi-instrumentalist and TREMENDOUS Talent; Emma G. (facebook.com/emmag.music)

If you have been through Washington, DC; you may not know her name… but you DEFINITELY have heard her talents.
That moment, I didn’t just see her talent, I saw her compassion.

She loaned me her Seagull Acoustic (seen in the photo) and I took the stage with the small handful of songs that I had. Singing an impromptu 30 minute set at The Tidal Basin Stage in Washington DC.

If I didn’t have pictures of it; no one would believe that story.

That was just the BEGINNING of my tales from playing impromptu music in Washington DC;

But that is a story for another day.

Precariously Perched on the Facade of a Coke Oven.
WARNING: Do Not Play around Coke Ovens. Really. It’s super unsafe.
S/O to Steel City Brand for creating the amazing ‘Yinz’ Shirt.

CONNELLSVILLE, PA -
Growing up in the hills of Fayette County, PA; I’ve always had a pride that came from being the brother and son of Coalminers. If you have ever known a hard day’s work; then you know what a fraction of their lives are like.
The coal that was mined in the Southwestern Pa Hills (SWPA) just outside of Connellsville, PA; was the key ingredient that helped US Steel build our country pre, during, and post war time.

In a VERY short explanation:

Mine the coal
Load it in a Coke Oven
Brick it up
Let it burn for 3 days
Burn the impurities out
Knock down the bricks of the oven
Shovel it onto a rail car
Send it down the line to Pittsburgh’s Steel Mills

Why burn the coal only to put it out?
Burning the impurities out of it allows it to burn hotter.
This tempers the iron ore to extreme heats, creating steel.
As I said, extremely abridged version, but something to be very proud of nonetheless.

However, when the mines close; what happens to the coke ovens?
They become abandoned. Used only for passerby Hobos looking to steal clean clothes off the line, or worse: Children.

”Stay away from the ‘red eyes’ of the old Coke ovens… it’s where the Hobos hide.
If they see you… They’ll snatch you right up!”
This was truly a warning that my mother heard from her father that came from living around the Coke ovens.

Much like any part of the world that held a high level of pressure and honor in the industrious nation that it helped build, it isn’t without its sense of mystery and folklores.

Mystery, Murder, Ghosts and an overall sense of feeling uneasy comes from walking in certain parts of these mined hills…

But that is a story for another day.