“Not everyone is meant to make a difference. But for me, the choice to lead a normal life is no longer an option”
~Spiderman
Thanks for checking out my website. It’s been a project on my mind for a long time, but now it’s up. I expect to keep tinkering with it as I learn more about this whole internet fad.
Music
I still remember when I was a teenager. Somehow I had managed to save about $150 and decided that I wanted to buy an electric guitar. My parents did all that they could to persuade me to hang on to that cash, I mean, what 14 years old has $150? They feared that I would spend all of my money, screw around with a new toy for a few weeks, and then put it the closet with my Ninja Turtles and Comic Book collection. That $150 ended up being the best investment I’ve ever made.
My real music career began when I helped form a garage band that was eventually named Grendl. We were your typical kids who didn’t have a real piece of gear to save our lives, but we loved to play and didn’t have much else to do. This turned into random playing opportunities and finally paying gigs. By the time the band officially parted ways, we were playing bars and events all over Mansfield, had over 5 hours of covers and original music, and had a strong fan base. As they say, all good things come to an end, and our lives took us in different directions. My high school year ended by being voted Most Musically talented by the graduating class and being the first band to win the Madison Talent Show with a side project we hastily named “The Lone Rangers.”Our performance in front of the entire school serves as something that can always make me smile: The Lone Rangers – All the Small Things
The following years were spent learning additional instruments, playing in several bands including, but not limited to, Anthem (guitar/bass), Hypo 12% (fill in bass), The Lone Rangers (guitar/bass, vocals), DeVenny (Drums), In the Key of G (bass/drums), and probably some others I can’t remember right now.
It wasn’t until relatively recently that I found my own voice and started writing my own songs and playing solo shows. I am a huge fan of Open Mics as it always motivates me to practice, learn new material, and keep writing. It’s also incredibly humbling to hear some of the fantastic things other musicians can do. I’ve also been fortunate enough to play several events, festivals, parties, and bars both inside and outside of the U.S. One of the highlights of my career was able to be one of the only musicians to play at the Mansfield Made Festival at the Mansfield Renaissance Theater. Playing music that I wrote to an auditorium that size gives me the same feeling god must have when he does acoustic shows to large venues.
I find myself grateful every day that I was able to buy that first guitar. I’m inspired daily by the surrounding world and music that already exists around me. And while I am working towards being a better songwriter, I will always have a place in my heart for covered music and will never stop turning Boy Band hits into acoustic sagas.