We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Eddy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
I’m mostly big on fiction from my local library, but a life-changer this year was “Don’t You Know Who I Am” by Dr. Ramani Durvasula. It’s more along the lines of interpersonal self-defense. If you’re a gentle personality that ends up in the orbit of something a bit more controlling or unpredictable—this is THE guide to seeing the signs and saving yourself from a world of unnecessary angst. I highlighted the hell out of that book, and it’s never leaving my shelf! If you want to be a better gatekeeper or manage a relationship you aren’t able to avoid (like at work or with a family member), it’s an essential read.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m a musician in a band called EL LAGO with Charles Eddy, Jake Villarreal, and Jaron Hall. I mostly do electric guitar and vocals, but with the pandemic I’ve had more time to explore recording, bass, synths, piano, and anything really. I miss writing more interactively in a room together, but this has been a good opportunity to look at songs differently and try to pick up new skills.
The four of us never expected to go as far as we’ve been able to—or meet and work with so many amazing people. We’re definitely grateful for all of the opportunities people have extended to us!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When it comes to Galveston, we would probably have folks over to our loft these days. Going out, it’s a must to stop by DTO for the best cocktails around! They have a great patio for times like these. In the morning, we take friends by MOD Coffeehouse. Brews Brothers on Strand is a beer-focused bar that also has a great menu! A lot of our friends work at or frequent these places since it’s such a small town. For breakfast, we love a place called Bambú on 23rd. The local oddity around here is the “surprise” breakfast burrito. We had them growing up in Texas City all the time. It’s a filling, working person’s to-go breakfast: egg, cheese, potato, refried beans, and bacon in a massive flour tortilla! I sub avocado for bacon now, but if you eat meat… yes, it’s very good! If you dine in, the breakfast plates like huevos rancheros are also great! Sunflower Cafe is usually crowded but also has a great breakfast and a longtime staff. For Italian, you have to try Trattoria La Vigna on 20th near Old Quarter—a great local music venue you have to check out as well! Pho Tai on Broadway is great for a banh mi to-go or a bun bowl or pho, Obviously there’s the beach, but I think it’s also just fun to drive around and check out the victorian houses and mansions, or the infamous Robert Durst house, or maybe the touristy things.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Big shout to Becky Major, the Creative Director of the National Hotel Artist Lofts, a historic ArtSpace property in Galveston, Texas. Charlie, Jaron, and I are just a few of the musicians and artists who orbit Becky. I think of the NHAL as her shadow box! She’s collected all of us and is an amazingly responsible, caring landlady. I know very few people who have the gift of drawing people together and connecting them like she can. She dreams up the wildest projects and events—and has the magic and elbow grease to make it happen! It’s the purest kind of delight of making beautiful things happen in her world, and it’s a pleasure to be in her orbit. I wonder if we’d still be lost without her!

Website: www.ellagoband.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ellagoband
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ellagoband
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellagoband
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLv45ERzRvOGHbKgaoAIq4Q/featured
Other: www.ellago.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Jordan Asinas, Daniel Jackson

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.