I'm sorry, but I feel the need to make mention of some of the other bands that have completely blown me away throughout the years. it's odd how as a musician you run into all kinds of other acts, personalities, and folks that change the way you hear, feel, and think about music.

I went to school with a group fellows that I came to know as Bonneville. They were like freshman when they won the battle of bands in high school when I was a senior. Needless to say, songwriting-wise and musically they're simply phenomenal. Hometown and high school relations extend to the likes of Jet Kid Committee (Joey Deady, Scott Deadelus, Keith Rankin, Brian & Justin Baker), Yakuza Heart Attack and the Tips on the Rooftops have also influenced my views on everything. Being able to share stages with the folks of any of those bands will effect you for the rest of your musical life.

For spring break of my freshman year of college, Joey Deady and I traveled a small tour spanning through Chicago, IL and Lafayette, IN to play a few shows. To others, then may have been meaningless attempts at doing something with our lives, but regardless we had a freaking blast. It's little excursions like that which make musical journeys worth it. Just recently when the (Alec Delphenich) Trio played down in Cincinnati we sat through a set where Alex & Mia Carruthers played together. Honestly, listening to them made me feel as though there is hope as a performing songwriter to touch anyone else's life with your words.

If you take those times outside of your hometown musical scene and compound them with those within it, you tend to find an even larger Tootsie-Pop-like center. I've run into all kinds of amazing singer/songwriter types, bands, and acts around Dayton. I mean I don't even have to spend time reminiscing before names like Wes Tirey, Brodie Porterfield, Vida Bailey, Wil Cope, Jesse Remnant, Jordan Hull, Magic Jackson, and Joose Box come to mind. I guess what I'm saying is that if I died tomorrow, the experiences I've had and the people I've come in contact with make my life complete.

It's strange to think of things like that, but I'm sure that is exactly how I feel and exactly what I mean to say. Beyond that, the people that I've become closer to than just acquaintances with like Nick DeFrange, Tony Herdman, Jess Haney, and Rob Salisbury solidify that feeling. So many times in my life I feel uninspired and as if there's nothing more I can do with music. Only recently have I realized how inspiring the events I've been a part of and the people I've known/met actually are.

What I can say to all of you out there in music-land is that people don't lie when they say, "You can do anything you put your mind to." In the end it is all relative to the person's mind you are talking about rather than the minds looking in on that life. I guess what I'm saying is that from my own 22 year-old mind, get out there and experience what you can. You don't have to live dangerously or timidly to get anywhere. Just "live." You'll figure out what it means on your own sooner or later.