The Kevlar Beard

Okay, so my good friend, Kate decided to post about her musical climate through different periods of her life. I really enjoyed reading it, and thought I would do the same. Some of this is embarrassing, some cool, all true.

Kindergarden through 5^th grade: I was a product of Christian Pop music. My dream was to grow old, and form the next generation of DC Talk. I seriously listened to Nu Thang non-stop. Some other pop bands included: Newsboys, Gospel Gangstas, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Fortunately, I had an older brother who insisted I listen to rock and roll as well. So I was also into Petra, Guns and Roses, Mylon LeFevre, White Cross, Tourniquet and Deliverance.

6^th-9^th grade: This season in my life marked my transition from pop to rock. Punk was the catalyst for this. My brother copied a tape for me of a band called Crasdog, the album was called Humane Society. I was so intrigued. I asked for more, so he made some mixes that included Mike Knott, One Bad Big and MxPx. From there, I grew more and more into punk and ska (much like our friend Kate). I started playing bass by listening to Ghoti Hook’s Sumo Surprise. Major middle school bands that I listened to: MxPx, Ghoti Hook, Valu Pak, The Insyderz, OC Supertones, Skanking Pickle, Plankeye, Grammatrain, The Cranberries,  Dogwood, Craig’s Brother.

Highschool: There was a specific moment in 10^th grade that still affects me musically today: Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity. My friend Clifford, who was a couple years older than me put on the song Goodbye Sky Harbor and said, “This song is really long, but just close your eyes and get into it”. I remember getting the biggest chills when the song was over. I couldn’t believe it. That one evening threw me into independent music, full force. The bands: Jimmy Eat World, Twothirtyeight, Further Seems Forever, Mineral, Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Promise Ring, Rainer Maria, This Bright Apocalypse, The French New Wave.

(I still listened to a lot of punk too, but it transitioned to hardcore. That is a whole other story)

Current: It has been six years since I was in highschool. I am now a mish mash of everything. I will listen to Tom Petty just as easily as Black Flag. Jimmy Eat World is still my all time favorite band, and I get the same sensation while listening to Clarity that I did back then. I am happy with my musical experience up to this point, and hope it just continues to grow and grow.