Sometimes it seems like a constant struggle.

Like this ridiculously steep nonstop uphill climb towards I'm not even sure what. And if or when I actually get there, what's it going to be like? Is there going to be someone looking over my shoulder the entire time, telling me what to do, where to be, when to be there, what to play, what to wear, how to record it, label it, sell it, not sell it. I do doubt that I'll let someone take the reins away entirely, maybe a little guidance, a shortcut here and there would be nice. However, without the struggle, I wander if anyone would do it…you know, be an artist. I find it almost humorous to think of myself doing anything different. It's not really an option, something inside of me just doesn't let it happen, almost like "self-sabotage." Really though, it's okay, I don't think I'd make that great of an investment analyst anyway. I can't imagine waking up tomorrow and not doing music. Seriously, I really can't conceptualize it. And I've played so many bad shows. Not necessarily on my part, I like to think that in general the music is pretty damn good. But I've played shows for two high school kids making out on a couch. I've driven six hours each way to play for forty-five minutes in front of a dozen other musicians and their girlfriend's. You never hear those stories.

I don't want to record something I'm not proud of. I can't even give you the option to hear something I'm not proud of. I won't do it, nope. When I do finally release my first album, love it or absolutely hate it (I'd rather you like it, just for the record) you'll be happy to know that I gave it my all. You'll be able to hold something as intangible as music in the palm of your hand and think to yourself, "He really broke his back making this record…" And I wouldn't have it any other way. Without the struggle, without all the setback Not being able to stop. It's not even an option, not matter how many high school kids make out during my set.

For me, not listening is what really sucks…we're all (us music folk) in the business of making music for you. We want you to hear it. Honestly, we want some of you not to like it. Honestly, we want some of you not to like it. We're walking that fine line between being eccentric and realistic. We want you to relate to our music. If you gave John two spoons, Paul a bucket full of screws, George a broken harmonica and told Ringo to play bass guitar with a hammer…they would still make music. And it would be good, very good. I'd listen to it and so would you. If that sounds a little "out there" to you, yeah that's because it is. And that's what we're trying to do, us artists, make you realize that some of the preconceived notions you might have, some of the thoughts inside of your head that say "that just doesn't seem right…" and some of the feelings you might initially have about Paul beating on a bucket of screws might not necessarily be accurate. Let your ears do the deciding, listen first make assumptions later. I'm working on an album. I've said it before, I've even started recording one before. I've never felt ready to do one…I think I'm almost there.

Well maybe you do, maybe you catch the end of "Behind the Music" or something and you hear some crazy story about Willie Nelson riding a horse through the snow thirty miles to a gig, I don't know. The point is this: musicians live for their art. Their craft is something intangible. If you don't listen to much live music, start doing so. Don't just download a song or an album, that's not the point. No artist ever recorded an album with the intent of you never coming to see them live. Think of it as a resume. All of their hopes, fears, sadness, happiness, highs and lows, literally everything goes into that little piece of shrink wrapped plastic. The next time you pick up a CD, or download a song or album think about what must have happened for you to have the ability to do so. Try to remember that you're holding someone's expression of angst, disgust or whatever in the palm of your hand. Someone took the time to write and record it, not by choice, but because they had to. Because something inside of them made them do it. Undoubtedly, it is important to them, very important that you listen to it. I'd rather you hate my music, and have it make you sick to your stomach than not listen to it.