Like most people, I spent a good portion of my high school career trying to figure out where I fit in. And I honestly didn’t find my place until my senior year, when I started getting into bands and real music that took me to a different part of my brain I had never connected with before.
If you were to ask me what I listened to back in the day, it was mostly ska, punk, pop-punk, and alt-rock. I was very open to anything that wasn’t rap or country, and the same is true today. I remember connecting with one very special ska band, The Dissenters, back around 2000. I heard them played on the local college station and instantly fell in love. And of course, it was serendipity that the very next day, when in school someone handed me a flyer for a Catch 22 show at Birch Hill, and The Dissenters were one of the opening bands. I developed pretty good friendships with some of the band members. Even to this day, when I listen to their music, I get a very calming nostalgic feeling that makes me miss all the good times. Local shows were my bag, and I could skank in a circle like the rest of the boys. I was not afraid of dancing in a crowd.
Though my style has changed slightly, my attitude towards music has not. It just made me feel alive, and when I get a chance to press pause on my busy life, I always try to hit play on one of my old mix CDs. And YES, I still prefer to buy physical CDs rather than go digital.
Later on, in 2007 or so, I incorporated more of the “hipster” type music with poppy dance indie rock. Dancing has always brought me joy, and dancing with friends and trying to attract cute boys was always a thrill.
Some of my favorite bands to this day: The Dissenters, Catch 22, Weezer, Muse, CSS, Ben Folds Five, Metric, Reel Big Fish, Death Cab For Cutie, Big D and the Kids Table, Ataris, The Sounds, Reggie and the Full Effect.
Old school bands that made me who I am: The Dissenters, The Jabsco Project, Melmac, No Doubt, The Superspecs, Midtown, The Impossibles, Green Day.
My favorite fashions: Bondage pants, band t-shirts, ironic kiddie t-shirts, hoodies, Converse sneakers, studded belts, button downs, lots of bracelets, ties, bandanas, pins, baby barrettes, and skulls (those are all still part of my fashion).
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