Meet Pat Mcbride

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pat Mcbride. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pat, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Well, I’ve been knocked down more times than I can count, but thanks to my fiancé Bianca, my family, and my friends, I’m still standing and feeling beyond blessed. I really can’t complain. I have everything I need and more—anything else is a bonus. Having gone through tremendous loss and traumatic experiences has actually helped me in certain situations because I remind myself: if I could get through that, I can get through this. That’s the upside of grief. Of course, I get the blues now and then, but I’ll always be a glass-half-full kind of guy. Life can be hard, but it’s amazing too. No matter what has happened in my life, I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.

I’ve also been a caregiver for individuals with special needs since 2018, and that will definitely humble you. I’m inspired every day by the incredible people we support through Civitas Supportive Living Agency. Feel free to reach out or visit www.civitasliving.org if you or a loved one with special needs is looking for exceptional around-the-clock support.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a musician who plays Classic Rock, Blues, and Originals around San Diego. I’m also currently working on music for a movie that will hopefully be released within the next year. I’ve been playing guitar for the past 22 years and also play piano, bass, ukulele, and a bit of mediocre harmonica. I briefly took guitar lessons but taught myself the other instruments. I don’t know how to read music, but I’m able to play by ear. Part of why I love being a musician is that there are so many outlets for creativity and opportunities to spread the joy of music.

For me, it started with teaching lessons, but that was tough. I found it easier to just play rather than explain what I’m doing because it turns out, I have no clue what I’m doing! I’m kidding of course, but seriously. Then I started playing in bands and had some of the most fun, insane nights of my life. Don’t even get me started on Gerber’s ChristmaHanaKwanzika Chili Con Carnival Cook Off 2016… That’s a story for another time. Eventually, I began performing solo as a one-man band all over San Diego—playing at weddings, working on this movie, and more! It’s always exciting; you never know what to expect or what tomorrow will bring, but if it involves music—whether playing or just listening—I feel like I’ve already won. I never get tired of it and constantly remind myself how lucky I am to do this.

I’ve even had the privilege of leading a few Music Therapy classes for individuals with special needs, thanks to my wonderful friends at Villa De Vida in Poway. Seeing everyone smiling, dancing, and singing along is truly one of the most rewarding experiences on the planet.

Since I started playing music professionally, I’ve had countless moments where I’ve said, “Alright, this is it. I’m in the right place, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.” One of those moments was on October 21, 2022, when I was fortunate enough to play for an elopement at Sunset Cliffs. Not only did I get to play music with an incredible view, but I also witnessed two remarkable people getting married as the sun set over the ocean. It was just the couple, an officiant, a photographer, a videographer, and myself playing “They Love Each Other” by Grateful Dead. We were all strangers but bonded in that moment, taking it all in. I’ll never forget it.

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Andrea & Dustin! It was an honor to be a part of your special day.

Coming up, you can find me playing at the following:
Fri 10/4
Mike Hess Brewing Alpine
6-8 pm

Fri 11/1
Hennessey’s La Jolla
4-7 pm

Sun 11/10
La Mesa Wine Works
2-4 pm

Tues 11/12
The last session of Music Moves Me, Music Therapy for individuals with special needs at The Poway Community Center (Currently 2 spots left to enroll).
$100 for Poway Residents
$113 for Non-Poway Residents
Visit www.poway.org for more details!
4-5 pm

Sat 11/23
Mike Hess Brewing Alpine
6-8 pm

Sun 12/1
Hennessey’s La Jolla
3-6 pm

Fri 12/20
Hennessey’s La Jolla
4-7 pm

More shows pop up all the time as well. You can follow my Instagram @McBride_Music to stay up to date!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities that have had the most impact on my journey are persistence, adaptability, and a deep love for what I’m doing. Now, I say all of this while still being in the thick of it. I’m learning every day and am still in the early stages of my journey, but here’s a bit of what I’ve learned so far that has helped me:

Persistence: The music industry can be challenging, with many ups and downs. Persistence is crucial. There will be times when gigs fall through or projects don’t go as planned, but staying focused and continually working on your craft is what allows you to grow and succeed over time. My goal is to be the musician that bookers think of when someone else cancels. So far, it’s working, thanks to my persistence and reliability. That said, I’ve also lost gigs for being too persistent, so it’s a delicate line you have to walk. If any managers from Hennessey’s Carlsbad are reading this, I’d like to apologize—also, sup.

Adaptability: Being adaptable—whether it’s learning new instruments, adjusting to different performance environments, or embracing new technologies—has helped me stay relevant and continue progressing in my career. Every show, venue, and booker is different. You constantly have to adapt. I’ve made so many mistakes, but I try to learn from every single one of them. With the one-man band, the buck stops with me. If something goes wrong, it’s no one’s fault but my own. You have to hold yourself accountable, figure out where you went wrong, adapt, and try to correct the mistake. That goes for life in general, too. Things go wrong all the time, and that’s okay—just be prepared when they do. You’ll actually feel good when a problem arises and you’re ready for it. For instance, I always pack extra strings and batteries for my guitar. If those go out and I don’t have backups, I’m in big trouble. You have to go through it to learn. Once it happens, you’ll make sure it never happens again.

A deep love for what I do: You have to be a little mad to do this. It takes a certain amount of crazy—not too little and not too much. It’s a sweet spot of chaos and fun. It’s not always easy, so you really have to love it. When I’m playing live, and things are going my way, and the crowd is into it, there’s no feeling like it. I truly love it. I already have so many incredible memories from playing music, and it’s only been a few years.

When I started playing solo, the first place I performed was a cool bar & grill in Old Town called Hungrys Kitchen & Tap. Unfortunately, it’s no longer there, but they were awesome. One night while I was playing, I looked out the window behind me and saw a group of Hare Krishnas walking by. Now, with all due respect, I’m not a Hare Krishna, but in that moment, when I locked in with them, we were all Krishna. I waved them into the restaurant. There were maybe seven of them in full Krishna attire, with drums and tambourines. The Krishnas were looking around like, “How did we get here?” while the owners and customers were thinking the same thing. In my head, all I could think was, “When will something like this ever happen again?” So, I strummed the intro chords to “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison. The Krishnas’ eyes widened. They smiled and looked at each other like, “Hey, we know this one!” As I sang the verse and chorus, they didn’t skip a beat, singing “Hallelujah” after every line. After the song ended, we all hugged, and they left like it had never happened. The owners with a handful of amazed and bewildered customers looked at me like, “What the hell was that?!” It was not only one of the most special moments I’ve had in music, but in my whole life. Luckily my buddy Gary got a video of it, so I’ve included a screenshot of it. Thanks Gary! I also want to say thank you to Toni Fisher, the owner of Hungrys Kitchen, for giving me a chance and always taking care of my friends and I. Hungrys will always be where I built up my courage, and I will forever be grateful for that. Thank you!

For those early in their journey, I would recommend:

Be consistent: Commit to daily practice and learning. The more you play, the better you’ll get. Every show is practice and a potential stepping stone to another opportunity.

Stay open to learning: Be willing to learn new skills, genres, or instruments. It’ll make you more versatile and open up more opportunities. I always try to say yes to any song request from the crowd. I love improvising on the fly—it keeps me on my toes. If it goes well, I’ll add it to my set for the next time someone requests it. If it doesn’t go well, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of that song. There have been times when I’ve gone back, worked on it, practiced it a little more, and it ended up going great. At least you went for it. Be proud of yourself for making the attempt. You’ll never know if something works unless you try it, so don’t give up on it. It’s all one big learning experience, depending on how you look at it. It’s all a part of this Bold Journey.

Learn the business side: As much as music is an art, it’s also a business. Understanding promotion, contracts, and networking is key to building a sustainable career. I’m still learning the business side myself, but check back with me in a few years! So far, so good!

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I’d have to say my fiancé, Bianca, along with my family and friends, have helped me the most in overcoming challenges. There’s nothing I can’t go to them with—they know me better than anyone, so I feel safe asking for help with anything. There are countless decisions to be made, each of which can open or close the next door for you. It can be pretty overwhelming, and I tend to be an over-thinker anyway. Having an extra pair of eyes and ears is really helpful, so I always go to them for guidance and reassurance. I don’t have a formal manager at the moment, so they’re all my managers.

Aside from my fiancé, family, and friends, time has also been instrumental in helping me develop the skills, qualities, and knowledge needed to be successful. I don’t think I could have done any of this professionally when I was younger. To be honest, I needed to mature and grow to truly understand the hard work it takes to make things happen for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/mcbride_music
• Instagram: @McBride_Music
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mcbride_music
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mcbrides_music

Image Credits

Joni at Wild & Free Elopements