San Onofre is Flat

Stealing my friend's state parks pass and heading straight to San O after work has been my activity of choice over the past couple of months. The water is warm, the sun is shining (despite what June Gloom legend might suggest), and it's just a really enjoyable time. Even when Surfline says there's no surf, I still feel the need to see for myself. This particular day Surfline was absolutely right- flat, flat, flat. But that's no reason not to make a little movie out of it!


San Onofre is Flat from Cami Clayton on Vimeo.

You Should See the Bruise

One day I'll get tired of the 8mm app and either stop making these vacation recap montages or find an improved way of doing so. But until then I can't think of a better way to brag.


NYC NYC NYC from Cami Clayton on Vimeo.

Ven Conmigo

My friend Tyler has the most amazing house in Rosarito, Mexico, and I was lucky enough to be invited to bask in all the glory that is Club Marena. Take a look.

Mexico from Cami Clayton on Vimeo.

Travel Diaries- Big Sur

You heard it here first- Big Sur is everything I wanted it to be and more. Go. (Rent a yurt, book a camping spot, and then go.)


  Biggest Sur from Cami Clayton on Vimeo.

The Boots and Oversized Sweaters Dynasty

It isn't out of the ordinary for me to leave a quality concert feeling motivated to become a quality musician. Something in my brain must firmly believe that attending a show means I suddenly gain heaps of musical ability solely by osmosis. Seeing Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings at Humphrey's was no different-- I left the venue with a laundry list of talents to procure as soon as humanly possible. What started with 'sing like Gillian' and 'play like Dave', trickled all the way down to 'be the best sound mixer in the Universe'. I've got a lot to work on.

 Gillian opened the concert with staples "Orphan Girl", "Scarlet Town", and "Rock of Ages"-- the excellence of which assured all of us in the audience that buying our tickets was money very, very well-spent. Having only been privileged to hear Gillian's voice through headphones prior to this show, I was completely blown away with the quality of her voice in person. Pitch-perfect accuracy was achieved with a smile that never faded. Gilllian's crystal clear voice coupled with Dave's rich supporting role made it almost hard to distinguish who was singing which note. Their voices complement each other in such a way that cannot be produced from sound mixing. It was pure; it just worked.

 Thanks to the fog rolling in and a banjo that just wouldn't stay in tune, we were lucky enough for a change up in the set list and a last minute addition of "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor". The quietly earnest tune from the 2003 album 'Soul Journey' was dedicated to the late Doc Watson. Gillian and Dave shared personal stories about the folk guitar legend which instantly changed the mood of the concert from a well-organized production to a laid back, "just-playing-songs-on-our-porch-and-we're-glad-you're-here" kind of vibe. It wasn't long after the mood swing that Gillian and Dave tried out a new arrangement of 'Six White Horses'. Sharing one microphone and providing percussion via knee-slaps and claps undoubtedly charmed every last person in attendance that night. Gillian, clad in an embroidered sundress, showed us her new cowboy boots and started dancing an Appalachian jig reminiscent of D. Ray White. Gillian Welch tap dancing. Does it get better?

I always go to concerts hoping a few songs in particular get played. I was crossing my fingers but not holding my breath that Gillian would play 'Revelator', but during a particularly heartbreaking version of 'Down Along the Dixie Line' I knew that I would be content if 'Revelator' wasn't played at all. But then it happened. Eight minutes of pure, unadulterated bliss happened. 'Revelator' was played flawlessly, and when I say flawlessly I mean I was on the verge of tears for seven of those eight beautiful minutes (I took a one-minute break to write on my notepad something along the lines of "I can't believe this is really happening.") Rawlings' guitar solo was tragic in all the right ways. I might have given myself heart palpitations due to the anxiety of anticipating how good he could possibly be, and as the song went on it became evident he is the only man who can play the guitar that way. Gillian's voice was the perfect mix of heartbreaking and endearing. Luckily the close of that song didn't mean the close of the concert, and Gillian and Dave had the audience singing harmonies to 'Look at Miss Ohio' before they closed the show with the lively 'Caleb Meyer'. After a show like that, the audience wasn't about to just let Gillian and Dave leave, so our incessant cheering enticed them back on the stage for two encores. The ever-pleasing 'I'll Fly Away' and an energetic cover of Johnny Cash's 'Jackson' left us with all the sing-along material we needed to make the drive back home, happily remembering the night we hung out with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings on the porch.

My Favorite Part of America

For someone who professes to love writing, I sure have been slacking on this thing. And when I do manage to post, it's usually a video montage with no words at all. It just so happens that I think these little creations do an astronomically better job of painting the picture of what my life is like right now. Simply put, my life is a good one, and it's made better each and every day thanks to the close proximity of my nieces and nephew. I'm all about lovin' on this country for Fourth of July, but let's be honest- my favorite part of these United States are these Lovable Greats.

Unsafe Driving Habits

The way I see it, you win some and you lose some with my blog. Sometimes I write too much. Sometimes I post too many pictures. And sometimes I post videos in mid-March that boast Christmas trees and holiday songs featured in Home Alone. These would be the 'lose somes'.

On the other hand, you win some when you view said mid-March Christmas video and discover just how talented I am when it comes to filming the surroundings during road trips. And I'm the one driving. Implied danger- win some. You can also win some by playing a round of 'I Spy' and see if you can catch the moment where I talk about a croissant, pronounced 'Cwaasann'.

So back in December I convinced my mom to meet me to San Luis Obispo for a few days while I worked tirelessly and she enjoyed a hotel on the beach and ample reading time. Our hard work paid off and we were rewarded by continuing north to the land of milk and honey, San Francisco. Good eats, cool treats, and a whole lot of Christmas. WIN SOME.