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COLLIN MCHUGH
A MAN OF MANY TALENTS
Astros starter Collin McHugh once joked he was
“the dumb jock of the family.” But he’s
much more than a jock, and certainly far
from dumb. The 27-year-old finds himself
in the starting pitching rotation for the
ASTROS, but still finds time to pen his
own blog and even play a few instruments. Music is more of a family
gene than baseball, he admits.
McHugh’s brother and sister (Evan
and Eryn) are songwriters in
Nashville, but that doesn’t
mean he doesn’t dabble in
music a little himself.
One thing he packs on road
trips? His ukulele.
Jayme: So your brother and sister are
into music?
Collin: Both are songwriters. My brother does
more of the acoustic, full key stuff and my sister
writes with a bunch of different people – she does
a lot in Nashville. I grew up playing instruments,
enjoying music and ended up doing this (baseball)…
J: Does it help you relax?
C: Yeah, I think for me anything that can take my
mind off of baseball does. It’s something I’ve been
doing for a long time – I’ve been playing instruments before I was playing baseball so it goes
back a long way. It’s something I’m passionate
about. Whenever I get a chance to play with other
guys, to pick around at the guitar, it’s a good time.
J: If you could hang with any musician –
dead or alive?
C: Probably Jeff Buckley – he’s kind of a freak. His
voice is incredible, he’s a great musician, son of
Tim Buckley and music is in his blood. I’d just sit
and pick his brain. Obviously he’s not around anymore so it’s tough; he was in the prime of his
career.
J: Do you play any instruments or have a
good voice?
C: I played clarinet growing up. Once I got into
high school I started playing a little saxophone and
then drums. I picked up guitar and recently started
playing the ukulele. It’s a nice little travel instrument
for me.
J: Favorite music?
C: I’m probably more into toned down stuff. I enjoy
a lot of types of music. I’m from Atlanta and there’s
a big hip-hop influence in Atlanta so obviously I
really like hip-hop and R&B. It’s hard to beat
Outkast (they represent Atlanta). Outkast, T.I. and
Drake. Other than that probably some
singer/songwriter stuff I grew up listening to like
Bryan Adams and Jeff Buckley. Let’s just say I like
good music – hard rock is tough unless I’m in the
weight room.
J: If you could only listen to one Pandora station
the rest of the season?
C: That’s a good question! Right now I would
have to say I am into the new Purity Ring album –
it’s so good. I’d probably put it on that and rock
out – it’s pretty solid.
J: What do your teammates say about that?
C: I don’t know – it’s a mix batch. Some guys see
it and they’re like, ‘What is that – I don’t even
know what that is!’
J: I’m not sure I know what a ukulele is.
C: It’s kind of a Hawaiian island string instrument –
basically a little guitar.
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J: Have you checked out any Houston venues?
C: Last year I saw Ingrid Michaelson at House of
Blues. I think Sufjan Stevens is playing on one of
our off days – I’m going to try and see them.
Check out McHugh’s blog where he talks about
life and baseball – adayolderadaywiser.com
By Jayme Lamm
Photography Courtesy of Houston Astros