I was born in Los Angeles, California then moved with my family to northeast Connecticut when I was youngish. We've always traveled a lot so I've been lucky enough to see lots and lots of the world. I never learned to play any sort of music until I was 18, when I picked up mandolin and then bass and then guitar. Since then it's been what I've been about. Sometimes you just need to turn the right corner to find where you need to be.

I think having lived and traveled in different places has informed my music quite a bit -- I mean, you can clearly hear the tug of Appalachia and old-time country in my music, but at the same time I feel like I'm channeling a number of different cultures I admire and relate to. If I pick up a gut-stringer in my hands you're bound to hear a bit of chicken scratch and border music filter out. Moving around has also given me a bit more focus in writing songs, too -- being able to step back a bit from myself and pay attention to what's going on around me.

I have a thirst for different instruments and have learned to play quite a few of them -- mostly stringed, though. It's good for the head to always be fighting with your instrument somewhat.

Aside from playing instruments, though, I also repair and restore antique ones as my "day job" under the Antebellum Instruments (click for website) name. I've also got a blog all about it that you can check out by clicking here. It's a blast and a privilege to work on, play, and sell loads of great old American instruments every day. All that access has also rounded out my playing style -- you get to know what works for you very quickly when you have instruments that "work" for you right on hand.

Beyond the music, though, I dabble in poetry and fiction, painting and sculpture, and fly through books when I can. Learning about everything is one of the most amazing abilities of our age and I've always been totally blown away by history, astronomy, folk tales and mythology, and the perennial good story. I like to try to think I can bring out some of the injustices in the world through my songs... stories that need to be told when they haven't been. Stories have a transformative quality on folks -- especially when prejudice blocks compassion when it comes to understanding other people.

They're also fun.

That's about all I can think to put down at the moment... I live in a gorgeous place, smack in the middle of the Green Mountains, in a wonderful state, have a beautiful wifey and sweet little babe, and am surrounded by caring, thoughtful, and interesting people. I'm living the good life as far as I'm concerned! It's like that damn line from Holiday Inn... "I've got something to be thankful for..."

And maybe we all do. We have so much. We should be.