Random Start: Father Son Picnic by Slick Shoes

Love these shredders. They were one of the first bands I worked with when I was hired on at Davdon. They were super young at the time - I think the singer Ryan was 14 when they started up.  His mom was their manager. We had to book shows around their school schedule, although eventually Ryan dropped out to do the band full time. This was mid-90s and pop-punk was hitting big.

Slick Shoes was a band that could hang with their peers "chops"-wise. The first thing that always comes to mind when a song from them comes up is "my favorite little shredders." I only got to meet up with them and see them play once here in Nashville. Definitely wish I could have seen them play more. They just reunited for a show last August with MxPx and Five Iron Frenzy, and they're either about to play or just played w/Zebrahead.

Here's a recent podcast ep from the Mike Herrerra show with the guys talking about the reunion shows.

And a bit of live vid from that show:

Random Start: Focus by The Crucified

This one is a heavy hitter for me. The Crucified was my #1 favorite band all through high school and they're still one of my favorites today. Teenage me was crushed when they broke up right before I was going to see them for the first time at Atlantafest in 1993. Fun fact - I came to that festival from Albuquerque, NM and my future wife who lived in Smyrna, TN was also there at the same time. We saw all the same shows. I wish we could go back now and watch it over again and see if we ever saw each other, rode a ride together, etc. Small world.

Years later I had the privilege of being a booking agent for Mark's and Jeff's band Stavesacre, who became a new favorite of mine before I started working with them. I came to Nashville to work in the music business and I was over the moon to get to work with Stavesacre and some of my other favorite bands. I started the job out of college and didn't know what I was doing right off. I know we booked some rough tours, but I also know there were some good ones. 

For some good conversation I highly recommend Mark's podcast, Never Was.

Lyrics: 
The deficit, environment, a government corrupt
So many things to worry us and tangle our minds up
We know we're being taken, we know it all too well
We know that something must be done but there's more to tell

Where are you going? What's your focus?
Losing your reason? For a... Lie

Caught up in the cause, the fight, caught up in the roar
You know that your intentions are right in what you're fighting for
But in the midst, the heat of it all, don't forget your drive
We're hear to do the father's will our reason to survive

There's so much going on around us and we must be aware
It's important that they see our love and that we truly care

Our time for lying dormant while the world is so in need
Is over now but don't forget the purpose of your doing

Where are you going? What's your focus?
Losing your reason? For a... Lie

Random Start: Unopposed by MxPx

Yeah, there's a trend here. A BUNCH of my saved songs in Spotify are gonna be nostalgic. I still like MxPx, and I LOVED their Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo record. I didn't love this record, but I probably like it more now than when I first got it back in the mid 90s. Looking forward to hearing the Urban Achiever episode with Mike Herrera that's sitting in my podcast queue.

Lyrics: 

We're all walkin' down a dusty road
I wouldn't care to bear the load
I know my limits but you won't leave me alone

It's a system unopposed
For those of us who won't say no
Your time is your own now, face the facts are real
'Cause they are real

Establishing lines always comes first
So many don't realize the pain they cause

We're all walkin' down a dusty road
I wouldn't care to bear the load
I know my limits but you won't leave me alone

It's a system unopposed
For those of us who won't say no
Your time is your own now, face the facts are real
'Cause they are real, yeah

Establishing lines always comes first
So many don't realize the pain they cause