If there was one line of advice I'd give to tween-age kids, it would be to listen to punk rock. No, I don't listen to Rancid or Minor Threat or Sick Of It All on a daily basis anymore. I am 24 years old and a good year into my career. I wouldn't be who I am without those bands though and I think it's good to be part of a community that allows you to be pissed off, think for yourself, and doesn't judge you while you walk out the door.
These days I usually take the alt-country route. I've calmed down, am generally not wanting to punch every single person in the face every single day, and have learned to be one with the river, so to speak. However, I do listen to Hot Water Music and Gaslight Anthem on a pretty regular basis but that's a different kind of punk from the straight edge hardcore that consumed my teens and early twenties. Ruiner, Have Heart, Modern Life Is War...pretty much anything put out by Deathwish, Bridge 9, and Rivalry Records was my life, my fucking savior back then and played a huge part of my character building during those formative years. To those of you who were active in that community, the bay area sXe scene, anyone with whom I shared a mic, screaming our fucking hearts out at a show, thank you. I love you. Stay Gold.
