Manhattan, Kansas, otherwise known as the Little Apple, was a college town blending a unique aroma of cattle, gym sweat and sunflowers.

I sang in a show choir, sang in some musicals (I think I probably peaked as Conrad Birdie in the Manhattan community theater production of Bye Bye Birdie), was first chair trumpet in several orchestras and concert bands, played in pep bands and marching bands, and also joined a punk rock band called the Fuzzbuckets. We won our High School Battle of the Bands and I remember some pretty fun bar gigs opening for various touring ska bands. I moved to Boston when I was eighteen. I didn't really have a favorite baseball player any longer, but my BMG membership and MTV access gave me unprecedented access to Buzz bands.