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No. 286 June 20, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five: insights, inspiration, and a few personal favorites to kick off your weekend. Music of the Week This week, I revisited the music and legacy of Jimmy Buffett—the laid-back king of “island escapism.” Known for hits like Margaritaville, Come Monday, and Cheeseburger in Paradise, Buffett […]

No. 285 June 13, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five: insights, inspiration, and a few personal favorites to kick off your weekend. Music of the Week Terius Gray—better known as Juvenile—got his start in New Orleans and began rapping at just 11 years old. A few favorites from his catalog: 400 Degreez, Bling Bling,

No. 284 June 7, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five: insights, inspiration, and a few personal favorites to kick off your weekend. Music of the Week Lake Street Dive was formed in the mid-2000s in Boston. Founding band members include Rachael Price, Mike Olson, Bridget Kearney, and Mike Calabrese. Keyboardist Akie Bermiss joined the

Welcome to this week’s Friday Five: insights, inspiration, and a few personal favorites to kick off your weekend. Music of the Week 311 (Omaha’s finest) — Omaha is more than just Berkshire Hathaway HQ. It’s also home to 311, the band behind tracks like Amber, Beautiful Disaster, and Love Song. Formed in the ’80s, their

Music of the Week Hailing from Pennsylvania, Breaking Benjamin is a rock band formed in the late 1990s. The band was formed by Benjamin Burnley (lead singer, guitar) and Jeremy Hummel (drummer). Breaking Benjamin’s lineup has changed over the years. It’s currently composed of Benjamin Burnley, Aaron Bruch (bassist, backup vocalist), Keith Wallen (guitarist, backup

Music of the Week Dumpstaphunk is a funk and jam band from New Orleans featuring Ivan Neville, Tony Hall, Ian Neville, Deven Trusclair, Alex Wasily, and Ashlin Parker. The band was formed in the early 2000s during Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Ivan is the son of Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers and nephew

Music of the Week Joseph Nathan “King” Oliver was an American jazz player who pioneered the use of mutes in his music. Oliver was a mentor and teacher to music greats like Louis Armstrong. Born near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Oliver moved to New Orleans, learning to play the trombone, followed by the cornet. He also spent

Music of the Week The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in the 1970s in New Orleans. The group was made up of the four Neville brothers, Art, Charles, Aaron, and Cyril. Aaron spun out another group called The Meters, while Aaron’s son Ivan and Art’s son Ian are in the band Dumpstaphunk.

Music of the Week Don Vappie is a jazz musician from New Orleans who started his music career at age 6 and now encompasses the guitar, banjo, vocals, mandolin, double bass, and washboard. The Blue Book of Storyville is a fantastic album that helped bring me much-needed mental calmness this week. Quotes of the Week