I’ve always really adored tattoos, but have never been inspired ENOUGH to get one of my own.  Lord knows I love them on men, and appreciate them for their artistic value, but for one reason or another I always talk myself out of the idea. Or maybe I just haven’t felt connected to anything that I want permanently inked on my body for the rest of my life. Until now…I think! While I have no intention of getting one this size, nor in this location (Don’t worry Mom & Dad) Ryan’s tattoo only encouraged me to think harder, dig deeper and really explore what I want to get. Alas…I’m pretty sure I’ve decided on the Latin phrase “Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat” which translates to “Fortune Favors The Bold”. It is a saying that really speaks to me and is a philosophy I definitely have adopted in my own life. Heck…I wouldn’t be living in Austin, TX if it weren’t for a series of bold moves on my part (literally and figurately). Now the decision of where needs to be made, but I am leaning toward the inner side of foot along the arch. I like this location for several reasons. It’s a place that can easily be covered when needed, but remains a little private even when I’m not trying to cover it up. Time will tell, but I am wanting to get one more than I ever have before.

Oh and who would I be without a shameless plug for my great band while I’m here? Check out the band Hot Chelle Rae (pronounced Hot Shell Ray). They are pop-rock-alicious and easily the sweetest group of guys I’ve had the opportunity to work with. They currently have a single at radio called “Bleed” but their album “Lovesick Electric” has several fun little numbers! It’s a happy disc, and you should add it to rotation on your iPod!

Check out their site: http://www.hotchellerae.com/

And of course if you happen to have a date in your city…go check em out! It’s well worth your time!

For those of you who don’t know, or who are not versed in the pop music scene, JLS (an initialism of Jack the Lad Swing) are a British boyband, who were runners-up in the fifth series of UK reality talent show The X Factor in 2008, coming second to Alexandra Burke. (And outselling her 4x over…Have you heard of her? I sure haven’t!) The group consists of Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Jonathan “JB” Gill, and Oritsé Williams.

Following their appearances on The X Factor, JLS signed to Epic Records (UK) and enjoyed continued chart success throughout 2009. Their first two singles “Beat Again” and “Everybody in Love”  both went to number-one on the UK Singles Chart. The band’s eponymous debut album was released on 9 November 2009, and has since gone triple platinum, with sales of over one million copies in the UK. JLS won the awards for British Breakthrough and British Single (“Beat Again”) at the 2010 BRIT Awards.

In 2010, JLS signed an American record deal with Jive Records, and released “Everybody in Love” as their debut US single. They are currently recording their second studio album in the United States.

These guys are as nice as they are talented and in all honesty, THE REAL DEAL. If you can dismiss the “boy band” stereotype/stigma they are the closest thing I’ve seen since Boys II Men with the NSYNC dance ability/likeable charm. Catch em this summer in your city, especially if you’ve got a Six Flags location!

If this tour happens to come through your area, I’d HIGHLY recommend checking it out. Even if you don’t consider yourself a die hard Hendrix fan, this show is a collective gathering of some of THE most amazing guitar players in the business. It’s high-energy and truly entertaining, highlighting how truly remarkably talented Jimi Hendrix was!

Experience Hendrix, fourth edition, biennial concert tour featuring an all-star line up of music greats paying homage to the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix launches March 2010 with special performances across the country.

Featured artists who will be performing music written and inspired by Jimi Hendrix. Include some of the best known and most respected artists in contemporary rock and blues including Joe Satriani, Jonny Lang, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brad Whitford (of Aerosmith), Doyle Bramhall II, Ernie Isley, Living Colour, Double Trouble’s Chris Layton, along with bassist Billy Cox. Cox, who first befriended Hendrix when the two were in the 101st Airborne division of the US Army. Cox played in both the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys and performed with Hendrix at such landmark festivals as Woodstock and the Isle of Wight. Cox commented, “It’s a thrill for me to play Jimi’s music for audiences now as it was in the 1960s. The Experience Hendrix tours have shown how timeless this music really is.” Joe Satriani remarked, “I finally get to pay tribute to my hero the right way, on stage with an amazing, once in a lifetime, line up of musicians!” Sacred Steel featuring Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeschi and David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos are also performing on selected Experience Tour dates.

Various combinations of these music greats will be performing Jimi’s signature songs including “Purple Haze,” “Voodoo Child (Slight Return), “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Little Wing” and “Red House.” As has been the case with previous Experience Hendrix tour incarnations, special guests are expected to sit in at many of the dates making the concerts all that much more memorable for both new and veteran Hendrix fans. Past special guests have included Paul Rodgers, Buddy Guy and Carlos Santana.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a veteran of several Experience Hendrix tours remarked, “Jimi Hendrix’s music has really inspired to push the limits of my own music. He didn’t observe any boundaries musically. He was an amazing player and a tremendous showman so I incorporated some of his showmanship in what I do.” As far as having been part of the Experience Hendrix touring phenomenon, Shepherd noted, “It touches you on the inside and gets you fired up.”

The Experience Hendrix Tour is presented by Experience Hendrix, LLC, the Hendrix family-owned company founded by James A. “Al” Hendrix, Jimi’s father, entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Earlier this year, Sony Music Entertainment’s Legacy Division and Experience Hendrix entered into a worldwide catalog licensing venture to make all of Jimi’s extraordinary music, including classic albums, never before heard archive recordings, and filmed concerts available through all forms of media.

Launching on the west coast, the month-long tour will bring the troupe of players, each a headliner in his or her own right, to concert venues in major U.S. markets including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis and Atlanta.

Notes Experience Hendrix Tour producer John McDermott, “The line-up for this tour reflects the breadth of Jimi’s ongoing influence that reaches down through the generations. The guests that have been attracted to participate are enthusiastic about the proposition of performing with their counterparts. That mindset underscores the fact that the Experience Hendrix tour is all about musical camaraderie and the recognition that Jimi Hendrix, undeniably, casts the longest shadow in the realm of great music and great musicians.”

Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix noted, “Everyday, we see how Jimi’s musical legacy continues to transcend generational and cultural boundaries. This tour is our way to give a live concert experience that reflects the genius of his unifying spirit. Part of our mission is to share Jimi’s music with audiences of all ages and these tours continue to play a key role in fulfilling that vision. As my brother Jimi would say, “We want our sound to go into the soul of the audience, and see if it can awaken some little thing in their minds… Cause there are so many sleeping people..”