— M i a b i . F i l m s

It took me two years to hear it. I was walking through a courtyard on the campus of the University of Colorado when suddenly the most beautiful music came through my headphones. It was Fall 2001. My friend had lent me this CD of this band from Iceland that I couldn’t pronounce. The only comment he had was that this was the music you will hear when you go to Heaven. Who was this band, Sugar Rose?

In 1999, Sigur Rós released Ágætis byrjun, and blew minds everywhere. The music was like nothing I’d ever heard before. Unexplainable. I’ll try- It was spacey, ethereal, heavier than hell, and sung in a kind of high-pitched nonsense. I honestly thought the lead singer was an actual orca until I saw them live.

Half-expecting to see a large aquarium on stage, I did just that. My friends and I went to see Sigur Rós at the Ogden Theatre in Denver on November 16th, 2002. On the way there, we discussed how everyone said the band was incredible live. Rumors were swirling that people were passing out from the beauty and power of it all. The light show. The incredible sound. The music. The orca. I thought that was the lamest thing I’d ever heard. People passing out at a show because of ambiance? Come on people. Don’t be so dramatic.

I wish I could tell you that it was me that passed out because of the majesty of Sigur Rós. But in fact it was one of my friends. And he passed out during the opener. One minute we’re all standing there watching this guy on acoustic guitar, and the next, my buddy is on the ground. But the fact remains, people pass out at Sigur Rós shows.

In the past 10 years I’ve seen Sigur Rós a bunch more times. They always blow my mind. There is not a more powerful band in the world. So here’s to you, Ágætis byrjun, for being 10 years old. And here’s to me, for being an old fart.

The 20′s were an odd bird. Some of the best times in my life. Some of the worst. There was no in between. Peaks and valleys. I was still in college when this whole thing started. I don’t remember much before my 21st birthday. That night I was playing guitar in a band for Bob Weir and the rest of LA.

A year before that I had found my voice. An English professor at the University of Hartford encouraged me to stop over-thinking and just write. Forget about rules. Just write what came to me. I thought the world of this woman. After that, writing became easy and I even looked forward to it. I’ve taken that philosophy to real life with varying degrees of success. Sometimes people don’t want to hear what’s on your mind. I am an asshole and love it.

Phish – Harry Hood

I took my first cross-country trip in the summer of 2000. The first of three. Seeing the great void was eye-popping. Landing in Colorado felt like the right thing to do to adequately withdraw from the world after school. Buck responsibility. Those were the early years. Not a care. And it started out so well.

Death Cab For Cutie – I Was a Kaleidoscope

The middle years are a gaussian blur of week-long benders, casual sex, and the food service industry. Coming back East didn’t exactly turn out how I envisioned it and I waded. I panicked. And the gut grew steadily.

Lessons were learned though. It was ok to not be the most popular guy around. Even though I secretly wanted that to be true. It’s ok to not be good at poker. And It’s ok to go to the movies alone. I explored the suburbs as a twenty-something in need of a goal. A walking St. Elmo’s Fire.

Rainer Maria – Ears Ring

I fell hard for the city I’d only admired through the haze.

I got my first real job in the later years. A job that I often ridiculed in public, but ultimately felt good at. I wasn’t trying to get out as soon as I got in. It was time to get serious. I write now… for other people.

During this time I grew in ways as well. I became more socially conscious. Embraced the concept of positivity. Actually acted patriotically, by attending the inauguration of a president. Gave up the freedom of the road for a subway map. Signed a three-year contract with my cable company! Started giving myself the benefit of the doubt. Aggressively learned humility. Still never learned to bite my tongue though. Still gets me into trouble. And the gut grew steadily.

Some of the darker times occurred during this period. Failure. Regret. Rejection. Inadequacy. Insomnia. I became a cry baby. Though I don’t know if that one’s good or bad.

Voxtrot – The Start of Something

I met two very special women in my 20′s. One in the early years and one in the later years. The former is my best friend and confidant. The other doesn’t want anything to do with me. But at the height of their power, both had the ability to make me feel like I could do anything.

I found out who my friends were too. Some people you could talk to. Some you can’t. Some drive you crazy but with your best interests in mind. Some who are just looking out for themselves. I don’t need scores anymore and haven’t made many new ones in the past 10 years. But I dig the ones I got.

It’s all over now, as the 20′s are no more. I’m just a man in my 30′s with things to prove and a gut to defeat.