Stephen River James

WINTER OLYMPICS 2026 from Milan, Italy!!! 🇮🇹 I came for the Olympics, I stayed for Italy. This is why I always encourage people to see things with their own eyes and then make a judgement. I didnt think my white trash ass would be accepted in the fashion capital of the world.. and then I lived there for a month. I walked away with numerous friends I can’t wait to see again. I got to experience the number one thing on my bucket list and see more world class hockey than I could handle. I was so inspired watching the best athletes in the world push themselves. Met people from literally all over the world, was blown away by the architecture and food….and remember that two weeks when the world leaders pretended they wanted world peace? Let’s go back to that. I can’t thank Milan and Italy enough for their hospitality, it was better than I ever imagined and I will see you in France for the 2030 Winter Olympics! And yes I will find a way to attend curling then. Can’t wait!

2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies from Milan, Italy 🇮🇹! The entire ceremony might have been the most inspiring performance I’ve ever attended at a time where I feel like my soul never needed it more. For one night I believed not only could the world get along but push ourselves to achieve our full potential. Every speech, every artist was moving…obviously Mariah Carey brought it and the voice of Andrea Bocelli is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard come out of a human, I can’t believe that wasn’t AI, the man should be protected at all costs. Milan and Italy were the perfect hosts and every volunteer was great…I even accidentally got back stage 🤣 (last photo). I can’t recommend enough and I am counting the days until French Alps 2030!!!

6 months living in London recap! Cheers to new and old friends who together helped me find my mojo again! 🙌 I’ll be back again next spring! See you then for round 2 and thank you so much to everyone who made this such an unforgettable experience and life changing trip. I know there’s a lot of you not tagged here because I can’t find the photos but that just means more for next time!!!🫶🍻🇬🇧

My first ever Gorillaz show with my first ever time in Madrid! Amazing combo. Was the number one band on the top of the bucket list! Their only show the rest of this year so I tracked em down! Another band been trying to see for 20 years and about as creative, talented and visually stimulating as any concert you’ll ever see. Can’t recommend enough and this might even make my hipster friends smile 🫶🇪🇸🤘

20 years ago this week I lost my father, my best friend and my mentor. But if I know anything, he wants me happy and I know someone is always worse off than me and you are responsible for your own happiness. This is why I take so much pride in personally choosing the best friends all over the world to represent me, you are my family and each day is a gift. I’ve been blessed with a lifetime of memories I wish I could share with him. I struggle hard at times maybe that’s why I am too loud, talk too much, text too much and always told I am too much at literally everything but I don’t know who else to be. Thank you to anyone who cares and your friendship, I am trying my best, I appreciate you and please enjoy every second you have with your loved ones, it matters 🫶 Love you all and I hope you’ll keep letting me be your jester. Cheers to the future and cheers to my dad and everything you and mom taught me, I hope I make you proud one day. If I could say anything it’s hug your parents, don’t waste time, grab a beer with em and let’s raise a glass to Rogues! Rogues & River sounds kinda good🍻

🇬🇧6 months of music in London!🇬🇧 Wow! London you are my favorite city for live music and I feel so fortunate. Thank you 🙏 I never thought I would ever see Linkin Park again let alone at one of the most iconic venues in the world at Wembley Stadium. Linkin Park has had more of an effect on me than any band. The first band I truly loved and was lucky enough to even meet Chester, saw him months before he passed with Stone Temple Pilots, ZZ Top & Billy Idol and then went to his memorial show at Hollywood Bowl. Growing up, my dad raised me on Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack…imagine his delight when my mom gifted me Master of Puppets CD by Metallica one Xmas and my idea of music changed forever. Still love Frank but couldn’t get enough of louder, heavier and faster. My dad caved, I joined a band, he bought me a bass and even worked the door at our shows but we had one rule in the car…when the music gave him a headache he could play Weezer-Island in the Sun at anytime haha. He said that was real rock music. I finally got to hear the song live and I couldn’t stop thinking of him, had to put on my sunglasses. Miss you every day pops and this week makes 20 years without you. 🫶 When I was 19 I got my first apartment, couldn’t afford cable so I went to the local Walmart and got Live Aid on DVD, much anticipated reunion of Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, The Who etc it was loaded….David Beckham intro’s Robbie Williams, who I had never heard of and instantly what I thought of pop music changed that it could have heart & depth. That’s where my London dream first started. Then I get to see Robbie at Arsenals stadium being a fan, first time on the pitch and he sings My Way by Sinatra my dads favorite song 😭 I could go on & on with each artist but to a lot of us, especially with how crazy the world is now how important it is to have outlets of escape. But the older I’ve gotten, music is who I am and even if I travel alone or go to concerts alone, I never feel alone when I am at a show. The music, the bands, new friends and the crowd was infectious in London. Thank you to everyone who made this journey possible, can’t wait for more & please go see your artists! 🫶🤘

The Music of Hans Zimmer vs John Williams with the London Concert Orchestra! One of the most incredible and inspiring performances I’ve ever seen. Now I feel like a proper local and feeling nostalgic with @p_lagera as we watch the soundtracks of our favorite movies ever. Wow, highly recommend. Shot a couple clips to relive this forever but wanted to get lost in the moment best I could. They covered: E.T, Pirates of Caribbean, Harry Potter, Batman, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Superman, many more and of course my favorite…Jurassic Park!

1 month in London down 🤘🇬🇧🤘. Love traveling around the UK! Made a list of 100 music artists I want to see live and I am checking off the list! Seen some incredible venues too. Music will always motivate and inspire me. I encourage everyone to see their favorite bands while they can. Lucky enough to see Lenny Kravitz, Papa Roach, Dropkick Murphys, Spiritbox, Bullet for my Valentine and Trivium! Nothing cooler than seeing bands continue to get better, my first Roach show was 20 years ago. On to the next show, cheers and hope to see more of ya on the road! 🤘🍻🤘

🇲🇽🍻Corona Capital Festival!!!🍻🇲🇽 Mexico City! Grateful to see a lineup that included Sir Paul McCartney, Empire of the Sun, Green Day, Jack White, Cage the Elephant, City & Colour, Beck, Iggy Pop, Nothing but Thieves, Zedd, St. Vincent, Toto and many more! My hipster friends will be proud I branched out 😜🙌🏼 As a little kid the first band I’ve ever liked was the Beatles because my mom was obsessed, so to share the footage with her was amazing and I’ve waited my whole life to see McCartney. Empire of the Sun took me almost 20 years to finally see and were top of my bucket list for bands to see live. They are my go to band to feel happy. I can’t believe I finally saw both in addition to all the talented artists. Most well run festival I’ve ever seen and badly needed this for my soul. Thank you! 11/10! More shows in Mexico to come 🤘🏼🇲🇽🤘🏼

You can’t be the music city unless you have CREED! Creed & I have both weathered the storm as people love & hate us for over 30 years. 😜 My first ever concert in 9th grade and they are just as good now if not better. Badass surprise by Hardy too! 🤘🏼🥰🤘🏼 I will be back and next time @bendaviesactor , @bz1213 , @fatmeeney & @gregperrow will join! 🙌🏼

Huge shout out to my boy @dougie_atlas ! We met during the 2018 Washington Capitals Cup run going to games in DC together. Stayed in touch ever since talking about tunes and finally got to see him play live last night in Nashville! You crushed it. Amazing group of musicians I saw last night for @thebasementeast Grunge night. Everyone was awesome to meet and thanks for letting me join! Hearing Linger by Cranberries, STP & Deftones made my night 🤘🏼

Hermosa, you’ve been my home for the last 5 years…that’s much longer than I’ve ever lived anywhere. It’s the first time I felt like I had a community and a home. I can’t thank everyone here enough and this has been the hardest decision of my life but I feel I am nowhere near reaching my potential, that’s 100% on me and I have a lot of things I need to accomplish personally and professionally….. My going away party will be our July 4th beach bash with @gregperrow , come have a hot dog and a beer with me. I fly out to Thailand the next day and feel free to visit me there. I apologize if I’ve been distant or not a good friend lately, I’ll do my best to do better. I’ve never been more excited and motivated about my future. Hit me up and let’s plan. Thailand!!! Thank you everyone. Love, Riv