I haven't really chosen a name yet, as is obvious from how frequently my alias changes. One ridiculous thing after another. I honestly don't think people give a sh*** what my name is, they just want to hear the music. I could just as well call myself Donkey Khan. That might just be the next one.

Playing "Rocking in The Free World" with Scott Sebastian and Todd Courson in a smoky old bar filled with has-beens out in the middle of Nowhere, Iowa.

Its clear that it changes the industry pretty profoundly. I think you'd have to be incredibly ignorant not to realize that.

Absolutely! It would be great to have vocals that didn't sound like they were being sung in a small bathroom.

I bought my first guitar in 2001, it was a Johnson Acoustic that served as an excellent ornament for the dirtiest corner in my living room. Finally, after months of gazing at the beautiful finish, I took it to Colorado in the boot of a rental car in case I was inspired. As anticipated, that trip proved fatal for the guitar. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened to my musical aspirations (well okay, not quite the best, watching "Don't look back" was far more significant).

I've been writing since I was 10, some garbage, the occasional work of significance and lots of repetitive tripe. As an overqualified 28 year old in the midst of an ever-dwindling job market, I have plenty of angst, which often motivates me to write. Since I only write when I'm angsty, you might get the impression I'm a pretty morose guy. That isn't entirely true. I have good days too. You just don't hear from me on them.

Bob Dylan (the 1960's young, virile, irreverent version, not the still-in-existence human version), Pink Floyd, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Beth Orton, Interpol, Explosions in the sky, Soundgarden, The Shins, Ben Harper, Radiohead, The Strokes, Joe Henry, Califone, Me'shell Ndegeocello, the Eels, Neutral Milk Hotel, Essex Green, Ladybug Transistor, the Velvet Underground, Ani diFranco, Michael Sheehy, Tom Waits (did anyone see that terrible movie, "Wristcutters"? WTF was Waits doing in that trainwreck), Bob Marley, the Editors, Don Henley, Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel (yes, that terrorist's old band), Guns and roses (for having the balls to er, put their balls out there), Lisa Gerard, Daniel Johnston (for allaying my fears about shitty recording standing in the way of strong songwriting), Janis Joplin, the Beatles, Oasis, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (try singing his melodies if you want to feel inadequate), The Kinks, Tindersticks, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Neil Young, The Who, Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, Red House Painters (it is indeed possible for beauty to come from wallowing in self-pity), Califone, Mark Lanegan, Belle and Sebastian, Iron and Wine, Porcupine Tree, Marillion, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant , Prince, Eddie Vedder , T Bone Burnett (who has had a significant influence on my production tastes), Adam Kaspar, Brendan O'Brien, Eric Clapton, The Black Keys, Jimi Hendrix, Counting Crows, The Black Crowes, Soundgarden, Mos Def, Tupac Shakur, Wes Anderson

... and countless others that don't come to mind right now.

The Acoustic Coffeehouse, Johnson City, Tennessee

The owner of that place plays a killer violin accompaniment.

Takamine EAN40c
Vinci Acoustic guitar
Piedmont Blues Harmonicas
Appalachian Dulcimer of unknown origin
Samson G-Track USB Condenser microphone
Audio-Technica at4047 Condense microphone
Squier'51 electric through a
digitech RP150 effects pedal
TubeMP studio
Acid Pro
SoundForge
Sampleswap.org

If you're religious (or a neo-conservative TeaBagger), you might be offended by some of my lyrics.