My (partial, rough, sketchy) music history:

First song I remember hearing: Short People, Randy Newman

First 45: Mr. Roboto, Styx. My brother's friend sat on it. I cried.

First album: Grease Soundtrack (!)

First tape: Whitney Houston. ("Crack is wack.")

First tape I bought myself: 10,000 Maniacs, In My Tribe

Last tape I bought myself: Belly, Star

First CD I bought myself: Cocteau Twins, Four Calendar Cafe

First concert: Kool & The Gang, Houston Rodeo. My dad made us all wear cowboy hats, but didn't drop the coin for boots. Nothing says "yankee" like a bunch of kids in straw cowboy hats, jeans and sneakers seeing the only non-country act they booked that year.

First concert on my own: The Escape Club & Information Society, Southern Star Amphitheatre

I went on as an adult to work in the music industry, which at the very best was interesting and the very worst...even more interesting. • Ask me anything...within reason
Writing about music is like...