Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee

Opened in 1950 by rock & roll pioneer Sam Phillips, Sun Studio is an iconic Memphis, Tennessee landmark. Originally known as the Memphis Recording Service, the building was also shared by Phillips' independent Sun Records label. Sun was the first company to record Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash, earning this small studio its legendary status for rock & roll, country, rockabilly, and blues fans around the globe.

Touring this studio, not unlike Motown in Detroit or FAME in Muscle Shoals, you're instantly overwhelmed by the history connected to such an unassuming space. To stand where Elvis, and numerous others, recorded their first singles makes the early days of rock & roll look so humble. And yet, you only need to drive a few miles to Graceland to see what a difference a few decades made. Memphis's Sun Studio is an incredible slice of music history to explore.  

"Million Dollar Quartet". An impromptu jam session broke out between Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash at Sun Studio on December 4, 1956. Often noted as a seminal moment in rock & roll history, the session was recorded and captured four artists together who were radically changing the landscape of popular music in the 1950s.

Inside the iconic studio.

Front office of Sun Studio.

Jake Vaadeland & the Sturgeon River Boys

I was really impressed by Jake Vaadeland & the Sturgeon River Boys set on the Coca Cola stage at the Calgary Stampede this year.

Some describe their sound as a mix of bluegrass and rockabilly, but as someone who's been particularly swept up in nostalgia on my latest documentary, what I really loved was that it was like stepping back into the Calgary Stampede in 1959 - right down to the deliberate ad reads on stage. I was pleased I got the chance to meet the guys and pick up a record afterwards.

Unpacking a Suitcase of Travel Shoot Souvenirs

While the experience was undeniably incredible, I'm currently feeling a bit overstimulated and numb from this last month of travel shoots around Europe. It really was the adventure of a lifetime. A lot of this content won't surface until 2023 now, but I'm enjoying rediscovering all of the random bits and pieces I've brought home as I unpack and reorganize. 

Here are a few early highlights.

1. Kitschy French singles from a Parisian thrift shop.

2. Various pieces of the Berlin Wall.

3. A mini bar's worth of different Scotch from Scotland.

4. Belgian comicbook souvenirs - with an emphasis on finds from Tintin and Lucky Luke.

5. Retro inspired merch from Euro Disney's 30th anniversary - now known as Disneyland Paris.

6. A handcrafted "willy warmer" from Amsterdam ... for dressy occasions.

These were clearly all must haves in the moment lol.

The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, California

Located in downtown Los Angeles, California, the Last Bookstore is a giant new and used book store that banked on the idea that book shopping could be instagrammable. From inside a tunnel of vintage books to walls of book-inspired art installations, the Last Bookstore is unique in that it combines the thrill of thrifting with the curated aesthetic of a downtown gallery. Visiting this gem wasn't just fun - it was actually a great place to find some unique local resources.