Start!

So, after more than 30 years behind a drum kit, countless gigs, a ridiculous number of records bought, and more than a few questionable decisions, I've decided it's probably time to get this website properly up and running.

Of course, nothing is ever quite that simple.

Over the past couple of years, life has changed quite a bit. I retired from the US Army after 20 years, settled into life in Germany, and started figuring out what the next chapter was supposed to look like. As it turns out, that chapter involves a lot more music, a fair amount of travelling, and occasionally wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into. Well, not quite occasionally, more like constantly.

I'm finishing up a degree in Music Business at Full Sail University. After spending most of my life playing music, it's been interesting getting a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. Some of it has been genuinely fascinating, some of it has confirmed things I already suspected, and some of it has made me appreciate the simplicity of sitting behind a drum kit and counting to four.

Musically, things have been moving along as well. I'm currently playing with Raw King Rats, writing lyrics, working on new material, and looking forward to getting out on the road more often. Between rehearsals, gigs, schoolwork, and travelling, there's certainly no shortage of things keeping me occupied. I have a few other irons in the fire, but really, I’m just trying to make the transition from being all over the place to really making this all happen.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I've started writing more seriously about music. Reviews, interviews, and the occasional opinion about whatever happens to be rattling around in my head. I've always been a music nerd, and I spend an unreasonable amount of time discovering bands, digging through records, and going to shows. Writing about it seems like a pretty natural extension of all that.

Which brings me to Tales from the Backline.

The idea is simple enough. A place for music reviews, stories from the road, interviews, and whatever else seems worth writing about. Some of it will be about playing music, some about the people making it, and some will probably have absolutely nothing to do with drumming.

I'm not particularly interested in pretending to have all the answers. After three decades in music, I'm still learning things, still discovering bands that blow me away, and still enjoying the hell out of playing.

So, welcome aboard. The website is a work in progress, the coffee is probably cold, and there's a decent chance I've got another assignment due.

But at least we're getting somewhere.

Cheers,

CJ