SLO LIFE Jun/Jul 2017

| ON THE COVER
A SNEAK PEEK
BEHIND the scenes
WITH PHILLIP TORIELLO
BY VANESSA PLAKIAS
We walked toward the guard towers—we all love them, especially
now since Colleen Gnos painted her murals on them. You could
tell Phill is so proud of his son and really into his relationship
with his little guy. They were clearly such a tight family and you
could see the love, see the bond that they have for one another.
I asked about his son’s
name, Curren. Phill
explained that it is Irish
for champion. And he
said it is perfect, too,
because their last name
begins with a “t,” so
together, Curren T., it
spells “Current,” as in
ocean current. So, it’s
got a bit of a double
meaning. It’s perfect;
that’s where his heart and
soul is, in the ocean.
I asked Phill about music, what music he likes. I always like to ask that
We spent some time on the beach around the water and Phill got a
question. The conversation went straight to Curren. He said, “Well, Curren little wet so he took his flannel off. He was wearing what he said is
likes Mumford & Sons and songs with lyrics and stories.” It was so cute— his favorite shirt. It had a Poseidon fish, or a Triton fish, some sort
my questions for him always seem to somehow end up about Curren. He of a sea god. Then he took me up to the top of the bluff. We ended
is just so obviously into his son, and wanted to talk about him rather than the shoot there. You could see this beautiful view of the bay and
himself. So, little Curren is into Mumford & Sons, which is rad! the sunset. SLO LIFE
18 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2017