October 31, 2026
To: Eden Escamilla, on our way to New Orleans
Dear Eden,
What a surprise to see you on my flight this morning from Los Angeles to New Orleans. I just woke up from a nice nap on the flight with the song Somebody to Love in my head, most likely inspired by tonight’s costume: Freddie Mercury at Wembley Stadium.
My good friend Nathan also wakes up to music in his head. One morning it was The Sound of Silence, one morning it was Take On Me. Two decidedly different vibes to wake up to.
I’m a big fan of life soundtracks.
At Comfort, as you know, there is cocktail music, usually something fun like Pink Martini, dinner music, almost always Ella Fitzgerald and morning music, something easy and chill like Oleta Adams.
These are all Pandora stations. Like an old man, I’m stuck in my ways and have not embraced Spotify.
My son Brody and I often clash on the music front when he visits. Music is a constant in his life. One of my all-time favorite photos is him at eight years old, singing to himself and walking on the beach. Today, his taste is far more current and sophisticated. Mine is more…well, mainstream.
For everyday listening…and especially driving, give me Pousette-Dart Band and Little Feat.
My sister Regan and I have very similar tastes in music… born out of shared experiences of listening to LPs of Barrel full of Monkees, Carole King’s Tapestry and James Taylor’s JT. Last summer, we even took a trip to Rochester to see JT in concert.
I think you remember that years ago…in the dot-com boom, I started an online dance radio station for the gay audience called ClickandGroove. It was 24/7 music guaranteed to get you on your feet. On Sundays, we’d play Gospel Brunch and Tea Dance hits. We even had a weekly countdown show.
At one point in time there was an urban myth that 128 bpm promoted homosexual behavior in lab rats. Of course, there was no truth to that, but it does get you moving.
I can clean a house in no time listening to old Donna Summer.
I still have the email and the URL for ClickandGroove, thinking…when I retire…maybe…
Nah. I’m good.
So excited to party with you tonight in New Orleans.
Stephen