5 Awesome Things with Jon McLaughlin!
The espresso shot-pulling piano-man opens up the Shoebox!
It’s the first Sunday of the month (can you believe it's already OCTOBER!?) and time for my favorite segment: ‘5 Awesome Things!’ Where I ask cool people to share 5 things they find particularly valuable right now. This month, I’ve asked my good friend, the driest man in showbiz, Jon McLaughlin to spill the tea on what he can’t live without. I first met Jon when Dave Barnes and I were playing a show in Anderson, Indiana- Jon was to be opening for us, and I remember walking up the steep flight of stairs to the venue & hearing the voice of an angel sound checking, Dave and I looked at each other and said ‘he better not be good looking’… ANDDDD you know how that ended. Not only is he talented, funny & hot, Jonny Mac is a thoughtful, sensitive dad (Dadville Podcast, anyone?) with a ton of integrity. Oh, and if you haven’t dove into his MOOD instrumental series yet, Fall is the perfect time for them! ANYWAYZ…
So Jon, what are your '5 Awesome Things!?
“Number one is my piano. I bought it back in 2018 (or 2019 I can’t remember exactly) . It’s a shiny black Yamaha U1 and I love it. I have used it on a bunch of my recordings which is cool but the main reason I love it is that it has become what I wanted it to be which is this instrument that sits in the center of our house and gets played every single day either by myself or my daughters or musician friends who stop by. I wanted it to fill our house with music and it does that. Not only have I written many songs while sitting at that piano but, more importantly, it’s the piano that my daughters have written their first songs on.”
“Next is a picture of my wife and me. It was taken when I was on vacation with her family 20 years ago. The shorts that I’m wearing in this picture look so ridiculous now. They’re enormous. But I love this picture so much. I used to carry it in my wallet back when I had a wallet with photo slots and it is getting more and more worn as the years go on. I just love that it’s a snapshot of Amy and me in the beginning and I love that when I look at that photo I feel like it was yesterday and I feel like we’re the same couple in all the best ways.”
“Third is my Breville Barista Express espresso machine. I have to give a shoutout to Tim Warren of The Alternate Routes for this one. Tim GAVE ME this espresso machine. He ordered one. They sent him 2. He tried to return one and they told him to just keep it. What a guy. I make my and Amy’s coffees just about every morning from this machine and it’s a daily sacred ritual.”
“Number four is the tiny shed in my backyard where I write. When we bought our house it was just a tool shed. No electricity, air conditioning, plywood walls, plywood floor. I had a guy come and fix it up and now it’s my little office with my desk, piano, guitars & couch. For years before I tried to work in some room in our house and anyone who has tried to work from home while kids are in the house knows it’s almost impossible especially if you’re trying to record a vocal. So it’s not hyperbole when Amy and I both say the shed changed our lives for the better.”
“Last one is the trampoline in our backyard. It is an eye sore. It takes up too much room. It has hindered our backyard soccer games. But I have spent a ton of time on that thing with my girls jumping and just laying on our backs looking up at the sky chatting. For this one I have to give a shout out to Annie F. Downs as this was a gift from her when Dadville joined up with her podcast network That Sounds Fun. I know the trampoline’s days are numbered as my girls are getting older and part of me will be happy to get a large chunk of my already small backyard back but I’m really grateful for that trampoline.”
Thanks Jon! Make sure to follow Jon on Instagram @jonmclaughlin or check out his website to stay up to speed on all things Jon!