Student Profile: Kyle Gertridge

This is part of an occasional series on the new faces in the first-year class at UC Hastings

Kyle Gertridge, 24

Hometown: Palo Alto, CA

Undergrad: Johns Hopkins, BA in economics and business

Diversions: Water polo, soldering, and physics. He also played in a Bon Jovi cover band. He is currently making his own analog guitar pedals and amplifiers.

Most Recent Read: “Life,” by Keith Richards

Goal: I want to be entrepreneurial with my law degree. Music management is something I’d really be interested in getting in to. Representing an artist, band or touring company would be exciting. My ideal client is the Black Keys eight years ago. I would be great to work with someone with integrity who is up- and- coming. I want to make a soulful impact in an executive-driven business.

Best Gap Year Job: Worked in the general counsel’s office of AEG Live, a division of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which does live entertainment production and promotion and venue management worldwide. They put on musical shows, from small jazz groups to Justin Bieber, at venues around the world, from small 800-seat houses to huge arenas such as Staples Center in Los Angeles and the 02 in London.

“I loved it. Undisputed, it was the best job I’ve ever had, with the best perks. I got to see five to seven shows a week for free, either in the front row or back stage. If you like live music, there is nothing better. I probably saved twice my salary in concert tickets just with all the freebies. And the schwag flies around pretty liberally.”

Dream Gig That Really Happened: Kyle worked on the Mumford & Sons’ and Edward Sharpe’s Railroad Revival Tour. The band toured by train, and at each stop they erected a stage next to the train tracks. I was doing location agreements for the folks who were filming it and vendor relation stuff. After one gig in San Pedro, there was an extra slot on the train. And they asked me if I wanted to ride along. So I rode with the band all night to Tempe, Ariz., and they jammed together all night. We played Ray Charles, old jazz standards. At one point I got to play for about 30 minutes with Marcus Mumford on drums. We had the sides of the box car wide open, and the cactus were whizzing past, under the moonlight. It was just one of those amazing right time, right place, right call situations.” The tour continues this fall, featuring Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses, Jamey Johnson and John Reilly & Friends. Details on local stops, including Oakland, here.