Interview

1. You started performing in a band in high school. Who were your musical inspirations then, and who inspires you now?
Pre-High School my inspirations were some mixture of Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash type stuff and Bon Jovi-esque music. I liked the songwriting and harmonies of the former and the showmanship of the latter. By the time I was in high school I was pretty swept up in what most high school kids of my generation seemed to be listening to: Pearl Jam, Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Jeffrey Gaines (not that any of these were related but...) I got more into the spontaneity factor and then tried to bring it to Acoustic Rock, etc.

These days I'm inspired by two kinds of artists. Those who make me laugh and those who can rock in the big way. I love Jack Black's thing Tenacious D and I saw a Bruce Hornsby show the other night that inspired me. Sometimes I like to hear big radio production stuff like Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne-though I don't spend much time listening to it, it's more of a guilty pleasure.

2. Do you come from a musical background? What does your family think of your music/profession?
My family has some musical action on both sides of the family, though I don't believe anyone in the lineage has ever done it professionally (how sensible). My great uncle was a banjo player down in New Orleans who was jailed for playing with black musicians one night. I've heard some of his tapes and they sound amazing. On the other side of the family I have uncles who would always sing at parties, tunes like "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by the Eagles and "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. There was music just for music's sake. My mom did some theater.

As far as what they think about it all. They are very supportive. At times a bit concerned and at least in the case of some of my family, they have a hard time understanding the work hours, ala "Why can't you hang out that Friday night, it's important?" The answer of course is that I can't be around many weekends for the same reason other people can't get together and chill with me on a Tuesday afternoon-they're working.

3. What makes a good song and how do you know when you "have it"?
Sheese, you got me. I like sad tunes that either make me cry or give me the chills.

4. What are your goals and how will you know when you realized your dream?
My goal is to be happy with my life. That's it. I want to laugh, I want to experience things, I want to be able to look myself in the mirror each morning and feel real and I want to go to bed at night without regrets. It sounds a little cliché, but it's true. Of course in order to do those things I'll need to grow as an artist and earn certain amounts of money, there's all the little things, but they are more of a bi-product then goals

I realize my dreams on a regular basis, though I can't honestly say I've attained satisfaction. In as much as I continue to bask in joyful moments, I'll be continuing a path of realization.

5. If you could ask anyone to dinner, past, present or fiction, who would be there and what would you talk about?
I would like to spend time with Dostevsky. He's my favorite author and I'd be very interested in what he had to say. Just to check it all out. There are people I have a feeling I'd get along with really well though that I'd rather have dinner with though I guess, people I could have really good laughs with talking about funny movies or something, like Chris Farley or Adam Sandler. I'm torn though between those guys and the more serious dudes...(-=

6. Which of Paul Chases paintings do you like best?
"Concert Colors" is the picture that most resonates with me and my style and personality.

Charity

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that does a "Light the Night" walk is a charity that I feel extremely connected to. I've had three friends, each in their twenties, who've been afflicted with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cancer is terribly sad and something that I'd like to see disappear from the face of the earth.

Light the Night walks are currently being held all over the country. For more information, and for dates and locations in your area, please visit www.lightthenight.org