Discover music and wine in the Santa Ynez Valley

Chris Pierce.

Chris Pierce on Songwriting

Responsibility, Refuge, and Renewal Chris Pierce has built a body of work that feels like a living conversation—one that stretches across generations, movements, and moments of personal reckoning. Drawing from folk, soul, and the long tradition of American protest music, Pierce writes with an acute awareness of those who came before him and those still listening closely. In this interview, Mr. Pierce speaks candidly about songwriting as responsibility, music as refuge, and the balance between vulnerability and self-preservation. Along the way, Pierce reflects on love and justice, political fatigue, and the physical fight to reclaim his own hearing.

SYV Buzz: Your songs often feel like conversations with history—are there any voices from the past that you are aware of when you write?

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George Quirin.

Playing With Fire

George Quirin on Blues, Flamenco, and Living Inside the Music Before George Quirin ever stepped onto a stage, music was already humming through his life—spinning on vinyl at home, echoing from concert halls, and quietly shaping a lifelong devotion to sound. A guitarist whose roots stretch from Delta blues to flamenco fire, jazz improvisation to Brazilian rhythm, Quirin’s journey is less about genre than it is about feeling. In this conversation with SYV Buzz, he reflects on early influences, the emotional pull of flamenco, the art of improvisation, and a career built on curiosity, collaboration, and an unwavering belief that music is, at its core, a language of the heart.

Early Influences & Musical RootsSYV Buzz: Can you tell us about the first time a guitar really captivated you?

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Gary Mullen & the Works.

The Show Must Go On

And Oh, Did It Ever! A little rain? A last-minute venue switch? No problem. One Night of Queen brought down the house at Chumash Casino last week, turning an unexpected weather-related location change into a full-throttle celebration of the music and energy of Queen.

Frontman Gary Mullen, celebrated winner of Stars in Their Eyes for his spot-on Freddie Mercury persona, led Gary Mullen & The Works through a powerhouse performance—big vocals, bold theatrics, and all the stomp-stomp-clap energy fans came for.

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Qupé uncorked.

A Foxen Canyon Classic

Andrew Murray Ushers in Qupé’s New Era What a Buzz-worthy surprise to discover that Andrew Murray is the new captain of Qupé—one of California’s most iconic Syrah producers!

Your friends at the Buzz first fell for Qupé Syrah years ago during visits to Big Sky Café, where owner Charles Myers would generously pour a glass to close out our work week at the then San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. The wine stood out immediately—rich, layered, and effortlessly balanced, with classic Syrah notes of dark berries, pepper, and subtle earthy undertones.

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Koehler Winery

Winery Focus: Koehler Winery

Where Valley Charm Meets a Seriously Good GamayIf you’re looking for an excuse to take the scenic route through the Santa Ynez Valley, Koehler Winery is it. The drive alone is worth the trip—golden hills rolling into vineyards gussied up in their peak autumn colors, all glowing under that crisp, late-harvest light. The crew here is wrapping up the 2025 harvest, so there’s that quiet buzz of accomplishment in the air—a kind of earthy satisfaction that pairs perfectly with a glass of something bright and new.

And speaking of bright and new … let’s talk about the 2024 Gamay Noir, which recently achieved a whopping 94 rating from Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large Matt Kettmann.

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Songs, Stories, and the Soul of a Small Town

Inside Tales from the Tavern’s 24-Year Love Affair with Live Music Step inside the Maverick Saloon on a Tales from the Tavern night, and you’ll feel it before you even find your seat—that buzz in the air that says something real is about to happen. The chatter softens, the lights dip low, and the room hums with a kind of reverent anticipation that’s rare these days. This is Tales from the Tavern, the long-running concert series that’s become a heartbeat in the Santa Ynez Valley—a space where songs and stories meet over whiskey, wood, and wonderful small town soul.

For nearly twenty-four years, the brother-and-sister team of Ron and Carole Ann Colone have turned this local listening room into a cultural landmark—a sanctuary for troubadours and truth-tellers, for the audience that still believes music is best experienced up close and unfiltered. Here, the applause comes from the heart, and the night leaves a trace of something you can’t quite name—connection. SYV Buzz caught up with Ron and Carole Ann to talk about what it’s like to curate programs that capture that heart-worn Americana vibe.

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We Can’t Stop Thinking About Tony Evans Jr.

And You Won’t Be Able To Either Tony Evans Jr. is one of those rare artists with a velvet voice and a storyteller’s soul. Hailing from Stockbridge, Georgia, and now making waves in Nashville, this rising country crooner is redefining what country music looks and sounds like. His tunes — equal parts heartache and hope — bridge worlds that aren’t supposed to meet; the old-school country of George Strait and Keith Whitley, and that smooth, emotional pulse of R&B. It’s clear that Mr. Evans isn’t chasing any trend; he’s building his own dang lane, one verse at a time.

With viral success lighting up his social media feeds and his music crossing genre lines with ease, Evans is redefining authenticity. We sat down with him for a heartfelt conversation about love, legacy, and the beauty of staying true to yourself in a world that often tries to define you.

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Eat, Drink & Be Scary

10 Local Halloween Happenings You Can’t Miss! Hold onto your broomsticks, Santa Ynez Valley—Halloween has officially haunted its way into the valley, and we’ve rounded up every thrilling, spine-chilling, tastebud-tingling, pumpkin-scented happening you won’t want to miss. From eerie eats to ghoulish gatherings, the Santa Ynez Valley is brewing up a cauldron of fun this spooky season.

Ramen Kotori’s Spooky Spicy Shoyu Ramen 
When the moon rises, so does the heat! Cozy up to a bowl of Ramen Kotori’s limited-edition Spooky Spicy Shoyu Ramen — a fiery, flavorful potion that’ll warm your bones and awaken your inner ghoul. Perfect for a chilly October night with extra haunt in every slurp.

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The Maybirds.

The Maybirds Take Flight

Why You Can’t Miss Their Upcoming ShowYou can tell when a band really means it. There’s a pulse, a hum, a sense that something true is happening in real time—and that’s the Los Angeles based Maybirds. When we first listened to their album, Here It Comes Again, life seemed to just spill out—every note contained memory, hope, and a touch of mischief.

Frontman George Adrian sings like a man with one foot in the clouds and the other planted firmly in the dirt. Audrey Wiechman’s bass lines roll through like a heartbeat—steady, grounding, quietly defiant—while Alex LoCascio’s drums chase the horizon, never quite settling, always searching. Together, they sound like a California road trip you hope never ends, part rock, part Americana, all vibe.

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Finding the Lost Chord

Chris Pelonis on Music, Guitars, and CommunityThere’s a certain alchemy that happens when an artist steps into the producer’s chair—seeing the song from both inside and outside, chasing the moment it clicks into something real. For Chris Pelonis, the dance between musician and producer isn’t a split identity; it’s the essence of his creative life. From the warm hush of a guitar that feels like it’s playing itself to the squeak of an office chair turned percussion track, Chris brings curiosity, humility, and a craftsman’s ear to every note. We caught up with him ahead of his show at Lost Chord Guitars to talk about what it means to capture and captivate, why he’s banned tambourines, and the guitar that got away.

Roots & RhythmSYV Buzz: You’ve worked on both sides of the glass—as a musician and as a producer. Which hat feels more like home, and how do they feed each other creatively?

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