My mom has had the good sense to never get on social media, and here she is back in 2022 with the good sense to not let me use power tools. I really lucked out with her!
Many years ago I got deeply into homebrewing for a stretch. This was in an era of beer pushing limits — double dry-hopped triple IPAs, extravagant fruited sour ales, the works. But I learned that the beers great brewers reach for are often the simple ones — clean, clear “lawnmower beers.” Without an overload of ingredients to hide behind, you really sense the craft.
@bigharpband does overload well — their previous release Waveless was a lightning bolt of energy, shredding, and wild time signatures. It’s one of my favorite albums of the 2000s.
A decade later they return with Runs To Blue. Stripped down to acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals, there’s something plain about this music — not as in boring, but straightforward and honest.
Congrats to Stef and Chris — my sister and brother-in-law — for crafting a very special album. Much like that lawnmower beer, it’s perfect for slowing things down when the world’s moving too fast.
Out next week on Saddle Creek. We’ll have copies at the shop.
A couple of shots from the last day of Deadly Wax Chatsworth, one year ago today. I hope everyone gets the chance to see something they love finish on their own terms. The last stretch of the old shop was something I’ll never forget. Seeing and hearing what the place meant to people absolutely knocked me out. To us it felt like we were just moving down the road but I see now for many folks / in many ways this was a goodbye. We’re thrilled to be in Granada now but we’re nostalgic for Chatsworth often — there was really something special about that funky little room! Thanks to everyone who was a part of the fun.
2025 was HECTIC, but it contained more than enough of the good stuff. Thanks to everyone who provided it, helped us find it, or just let us hold it for a while. I’m blessed to be surrounded by incredible family and friends — and above all, these two kind, hilarious, and just plain good humans by my side. Best wishes in all directions for lots of peace and happiness in the next go-round, we’ll see you there. 🥳
Twenty seven years ago this weekend I went to a post-Thanksgiving bash at my sister’s house and spent hours on a couch laughing with girl I thought was way out of my league. Then she asked me out for the next night and we ended up going through her records until the wee hours of the morning. Almost three decades later and we’re still cracking each other up on the couch and having fun looking at records together. Big fan of this lady but I don’t meet many people who aren’t; happy 27th “first-date-a-versary” @kerri.deadly ❤️
Last night we had the extreme pleasure and privilege of hosting students from our local high school jazz program @ghchsjazz in front of the shop under the direction of our friend @toddsimonmusic — an absolute legend in the game who has trained and played with a list of jazz heavies that makes my jaw drop. We were so psyched to be able to provide a space for these kids and their extremely heady live jazz right on the streets of our hometown and can’t wait to do it again. As they absolutely shredded out the ending of Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay” to close out the night — just tearing it up on the sidewalk — I felt at home in a very special kind of way. LA folks, we’ll do it again next month — and on the third Thursday of each month going forward. It is an *excellent* time, please come check one out!
A small Mexican restaurant we loved in a bizarre little standalone Ventura County food court across the parking lot from a movie theater that’s been converted into a church — take a breath with me bc I’m still going — well the restaurant shuttered during the pandemic but later took over the seafood stand called Sea Ranger that was next to them, turned it all vegan with a crazy wide-ranging menu, renamed the place Seed Ranger and the food is somehow even better than the story.
We are now well past the point where we’ve celebrated more birthdays together than we did before. We’re past the ages that any of our parents were when we started dating. There’s a lot about getting older that’s a drag, but the chance to keep adding to our long history together is a privilege like none other. I’m lucky to bask in this lady’s considerable reflective glow on special days and on normal days going back almost three decades now. She is an absolute gem of a human who fills in all the lines with love and laughs and kindness and a spirit that is entirely her own. Happy birthday @kerri.deadly — I’m excited to spend today and every day with you. 🩵💚🩵💚
Six months ago today, we opened the doors to our Granada location with little fanfare. It wasn’t long before we knew we were at home. We had an amazing three year run in Chatsworth, but when we saw a spot open up in the Village we felt a pull on our hearts that we couldn’t resist — the chance to make all the things Deadly Wax meant to us and others happen right here in our hometown was worth taking a big chance and making a possibly crazy move. Doing this in the town we write in our return address proved to be every bit as meaningful as we hoped and it’s a true thrill to be a part of this exciting moment in Granada. Today we’ll join with friends to cut a ribbon and celebrate being here. Why a ribbon-cutting six months in? To me the easier question was “why not?” — this is a chance to get together with treasured friends and customers, introduce ourselves to neighbors we haven’t met yet, and show off the little store that we’re so proud to add to our community. I hope you’ll join us between 4 and 7 for some tunes, giveaways, and fun. Watch our stories today for details on how to score some freebies. Deep gratitude to everyone who has helped make this move feel so right, we try to pay that back in being good neighbors ourselves. Shop’s open at 11 today and there’s lots of fresh stuff out there so there’s no shame in coming early — or twice.
