Laid-back Listening Party at Montrose’s AvantGarden Sets Tone for Harris’ Record Release

Patrick Pressgrove
Laid-back Listening Party at Montrose’s AvantGarden Sets Tone for Harris’ Record Release

Ryan O. Harris threw a hip listening party to preview his new record, 'Vanilla Sky.'

WHEN YOU'RE A music artist with a background in PR and event planning, you throw the perfect listening party. Earlier this week, Ryan O. Harris, who is such an artist with just such a background, premiered a curated playlist of his upcoming EP, Vanilla Sky, at a private event on the second floor or Montrose's AvantGarden.


To set the mood for his "summer playlist," Harris enlisted sponsors including Highway Vodka, and, over by the DJ booth, hemp sorbet from Hemp Ice Factory was served, as were pastries and candy from Black Print Edibles.

The setting and refreshments were meant to match Harris' mellow, amicable sound, which asked for minimal movement and maximum chill. To round out the vibe, Harris asked for a '90s dress code. "Summer comes with a sense of nostalgia that rarely is allowed to melt into itself," explains Harris. "We can't go back, but we should always be able to glide into memories that makes us laugh, smile, cry and even learn."

Harris' music is deeply personal, and seems to flow easily from his personality. "Firefly," a free-flowing track that evokes backyard hangouts at twilight, is "a nod to when I erupted into my 30s and felt not only empowered, but prepared to execute my power to build what I wanted," says Harris. Another playlist highlight was "Light Up the Night," a song that Harris wrote around a track that was sent to him a decade ago by a friend who recently passed.

While Harris' music stands on its own — outside the context of a cool hidden Montrose bar surrounded by the beautiful people of Houston — it certainly was enhanced by the trappings of Harris' party. "I come from an entertainment PR and special events background, so I believe that the love is in the details," he says. "A good party is never about one person. It's about the collective not wanting the party to end."

Vanilla Sky will be available for streaming on all platforms beginning July 16.

Courtney Nao and AJ McQueen (photo by Gemini Quintos)

DJ Skrechy Shrach (photo by Gemini Quintos)

Adee Mendéz and Mya Rose (photo by Gemini Quitos)

Bryce McKinney and Aaron Spady (photo by Gemini Quintos)

Ryan O. Harris and Travis Jones (photo by Gemini Quintos)

Parties
‘Culture of Service and Accountability’ Supports Mission of Orion EMS

Gerard O’Brien, President/CEO & Founder, and Sumi Patel, Vice President

HOW DID YOU get where you are today? The EMS industry, quite literally, never stops. Our staff and units are called to serve our community every hour of every day; there are no weekends, holidays, or “days off.” Obviously, the demands of EMS are not for the faint of heart, and we have established a culture of service and accountability that is different than nearly every other organization. Our leadership team sets this culture by exhibiting their passion for this industry daily. Their tireless dedication makes a better experience for our staff when they come to work and for our patients and clients when they call on us to transport their loved ones.

Keep ReadingShow less

Masterson's frocks are made from prints fashioned from her nature photographs.

THEY SAY A picture is worth a thousand words, and in the case of artist Libbie Masterson, her storied collection of global and Houston-centric photographs does the talking — on apparel and accessories, that is.

Art for Wear is Masterson’s new fashion line, in which her professional landscape photographs are printed on various fabrics and finished as wearable art, clothing and accessories. Her collection includes an artistic line of women’s dresses, light wraps, tunics, purses and various unisex bags splashed with her iconic photography. Love Houston’s South Boulevard? There’s a dress for that. Always on the move? She has a yoga mat and the backpack of your dreams!

Keep ReadingShow less
Art+Culture

Big Casino

READY OR NOT, Christmas is almost three weeks away and Houston restaurants and bars are beckoning with sparkling décor, holiday cocktails, and even shopping. Here’s where to slip into the spirit during the most wonderful time of the year!
Keep ReadingShow less
Food