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I spend more time and money than on should on listening to and playing music, but hey, its a lot of fun! Anyways, I have a pretty wide selection of music. Here's a little guide to my favorites.
Stay tuned as I add bands to this list. You can also check out my favorite albums in my Album Guide.
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Billy Joel
When I was 9 years old, I got hold of Joel's 'Storm Front' tape and I started listening to it. I was too young to really appreciate the music though. The tape gathered dust for four years until I found it again in 1993. This time I was mature enough to appreciate Joel's music and I instantly became a fan.
By coincidence, Billy Joel's next album, 'River of Dreams,' was released that summer and it became the first CD I everreally bought. Although my musical taste has greatly broadened in the years since, Billy Joel is still one of my favorite artists ever.
I've seen Billy Joel in concert four times:
July 20, 1994: Washington DC @ RFK Stadium [ review ]
April 23, 1998: Washington DC @ The MCI Center [ review ]
December 10, 1999: St. Louis, MO @ The Kiel Center [ review ]
April 12, 2003: Chicago, IL @ The Allstate Arena [ review ]
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Elton John
As I became enamored with piano rock, the obvious move was to go from Billy Joel to Elton John. Billy and Elton were touring together when I started like Joel, so I automatically started paying attention to Elton John. In the summer of 1994, the Face to Face tour coincided with Elton John's appearance on 'The Lion King,' soundtrack.
Many of Elton John's albums directly after that became some of my favorites, like 'Made in England,' and 'The Big Picture.'
I've seen Elton John live three times:
July 20, 1994: Washington DC @ RFK Stadium [ review ]
October 1, 1999: Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
April 12, 2003: Chicago, IL @ The Allstate Arena [ review ]
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Gin Blossoms
I started liking these guys during ninth grade. I found my sister's old copy of 'New Miserable Experience' and I started listening to it, especially the the hit song, 'Hey Jealousy.'
In 1996 the Gin Blossoms put out another album, "Congratulations, I'm Sorry," and I instantly became a fan this album too.
I've seen the Gin Blossoms live once:
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The Presidents of the United States of America
By the summer of 1996, I wasn't sick of Billy Joel, but I felt the need to find something new. Hiding in the intimidating 'alternative' rage culture was a small trio of 'nice guys' from Seattle who sang about dune buggies and citrus fruit.
Chris Ballew played a 3-string guitar in drop-D tuning. Dave Dederer played a 2-string 'bassitar' -- some sort of hybrid between a bass and a guitar. Jason Finn played the drums on a tiny kit fit more for a twelve-year old than a full fledged rock band.
PUSA fizzled out in typical one-hit wonder fashion, but they still put out three albums worth of good fun songs that happened to rock.
I've seen The Presidents of the United of America live three times:
June 1, 1996: HFStival in Washington DC @ RFK Stadium June 22, 1996: Washington DC @ The 9:30 Club March 8, 1997: Washington DC @ The 9:30 Club
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Ben Folds Five / Ben Folds
During my senior year of high school a friend told me about the Ben Fold's Five. By chance, MTV2 was regularly airing 'The Battle of Who Could Care Less' at the time. Within 6 months the trio released 'Brick' as a single and they hit it big.
I found some of their MP3s on the school network during my freshman year of college. This prompted me to buy 'Whatever and Ever Amen.'
I basically stopped listening to them until February of 2002, when a friend's girlfriend downloaded 'Losing Lisa,' and 'Annie Waits,' on my computer. I liked them so much I went out and bought Ben Fold's first solo album, 'Rockin' the Suburbs.'
I've seen Ben Folds live once:
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The Alkaline Trio
In April 2002,The Alkaline Trio played a show at the University of Illinois. I didn't go to the show, but I had heard of them and hearing people talk about the show made me curious as too who these guys were. I copied all of their albums from friends and the CDs promptly sat on my desk for a few weeks.
Three weeks later, I found the CDs as I packed my bags to go home and I decided to throw them in the CD changer. During that eleven and a half hour trek home, I began to appreciate their brand of dark and clever pop-punk.
I've seen the Alkaline Trio live six times:
- October 31, 2002: Chicago, IL @ The Metro [ review ]
- May 15, 2003: Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theatre [ review ]
- May 24, 2003: Washington DC @ The 9:30 Club [ review ]
- October 30, 2003: Chicago, IL @ The Aragon Ballroom
- June 18, 2005: Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theatre
- September 22, 2005: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
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