Old Flings

What a whirlwind of a weekend. I should be studying for a chemistry exam, but I just want to one last time say thank you to everyone who came to our final show on Saturday night at FEST 15. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to every person who came up to me after the set to say thank you. Thank you to every person who told me how much our music meant to you. Thank you to every person who told me how much we as people and friends meant to you. Saturday night was one of the most overwhelmingly emotional yet positive moments of my life and I will be forever grateful to everyone whose lives we touched and who in turn touched my own life, even for a brief moment.

Our friend Jeff Takacs had the bright idea to conduct an "exit interview" of sorts after our set for his great punk/indie podcast Rocket Fuel. I can't speak for Matt or Travis, but for me it offered some much needed closure as we reflected on the past, present, and future. We can't wait to share it with you once Jeff gets it all finalized and put together. In the mean time, please check out the rest of the Rocket Fuel podcasts!

For those of you who I had the privilege to meet through this band, I hope we are able to continue these friendships for many years. Thank you all again, from the bottom of my heart.

Preparing emotionally for Old Flings' last show at THE FEST tomorrow has been a ongoing process as of late. Despite the fact that we haven't played together since May 27th, in a different country at that, I still don't think I'm fully emotionally prepared for it. I haven't gone without being in a touring band since 2007; nine consecutive years, the last six with Old Flings. And that's not including the three years prior I had been hitting the road with my friends' bands. Relative to many others before me, I'm sure it doesn't seem like much, but the impact it has made on my life and who I am is truly vast and will affect me forever.

This moment has been hard to come to terms with, quite honestly. I have loved being in this band. I have loved being in a band with Matt Evans,Springs Wade, and Travis Hollifield. I have loved being crammed in a van/car with friends like Grant, Chris, Wesley, my wife Samantha (who has hit the road with us multiple times), Ally, and Hayden. I have enjoyed becoming friends with the great people we've toured or shared the road with, like Family Cat, Burners/Bodyfather, Springtime, Brief Lives, Sundale, Hold Tight!, The New Lows, and the countless other bands who've played shows with us. I am supremely thankful for the opportunities to travel the country and the world this band has given me. I have loved meeting countless wonderful people through this band and through this community. I will miss these aspects of it so much.

We thought last year would be my final Fest show and that I would end my time in the band in Europe. While I am sad that this band will no longer go on writing awesome, fun music without me, I am thankful to have one last opportunity to share the stage with Matt and Travis, ending the band as we began. I didn't mean to write this long of a status update, but if you know me at all, you're probably not surprised. Anyway, lets get this over with.