Patrick McMichaelThe dude travels north.
He's a So. Cal transplant who is stoked to be up in No. Cal's clean and green. His roots are the mean streets of East Los Angeles. Today he can happily smile and shake his head about his wild times as a teenager.
When his uncle made the move up north, he said there might be work for Patrick in his transportation company (he also through that in No. Cal girls were much nicer than So. Cal girls). Patrick didn't hesitate. His uncle promised him the ocean and it's waves would still be available a la norte -- a big selling point as Patrick finds his mojo in the mosh of the ocean's whitewash.
What his uncle didn't mention was the bone-chilling water temperature, or the rocks off the secret spot in Capitola. Patrick left a pound of shin flesh (and a good portion of his brand new wet suit) after eating it on a particularly heavy set.
Nasty scar in tow (nothing makes the chicks "oooh" and "ahhh" like a good scar), his hustle made him an instant favorite at his transportation job. He shot up the ranks from file boy to the front office in no time. He also moonlighted at Applebees, waiting tables to make a few bucks and meet a lot of people -- thankfully for us at D&D, one of those people was staff DJ Jason Ruderman. Jason liked Patrick's style and told him to come check out a showcase. Though Patrick didn't know Jason from Adam West, and was wary of the potential Amway Scamway, he gave us a peek. Hook, line and sinker.
At D&D we often say the music is the easy part -- the person with the personality is the gem that we're looking for. Patrick's a rare one, shining with the mic in his hand, coordinating games & dances with guests, and running behind the scenes with vendors at the same time. He loves getting lost in what could feel incredibly chaotic to others.
"It's like catching the set wave, getting completely barreled and making it out," he says with the trademark So. Cal smile. "It's sick."
"Sick" is So. Cal lingo for "great". You can take the boy out of the ‘hood...
