It all began back in the early summer of 2004 during my first "real" concert experience. I decided to skip my senior prom so that I could go to the blink-182 show in Hartford, Connecticut. Alongside one of my best friends (whose tireless help has made this blog possible), it was the first time music really changed my life. That show sparked for both of us a passion that has yet to cease.In college I met a lot of people who shared the same love of all things music as I did. This was great because not only did it give me concert buddies, but they turned me on to so many new and amazing bands.
I owe to these people some of the best times of my life. Weekend trips across New England following Green Day. Insanely long night drives from New Hampshire to Connecticut and back just to see an opening act play six songs. Working the lunch line at Warped Tour feeding bands and the crew just to score backstage passes. In no time at all my passion had become my life.
As the years passed, my appetite for music kept growing. Just seeing the show was never enough. Finally, in late 2007 I made the decision that I wanted to be part of the scene that had given so much to me. I wanted to take another love of mine, writing, and combine it with the life I had grown to cherish.
The two words, "music journalist," were all I could think about. So I moved to Boston right after graduation and enrolled in Emerson College's graduate journalism program. Almost immediately I had the chance to interview Rise Against for a project. I don't think I have ever been so nervous/excited for an interview in my life. I was starting to live my dream. (The video package I put together also landed me my first 'A' in grad school. Thanks, Tim!)
The following semester was a sort of baptism by fire into the world of online writing. Not only was I doing weekly reporting for a few news organizations, but I also had to start a blog. It had been something I was considering for some time, so I used the opportunity to launch the beginnings of the site you're looking at now.
And things have just grown since then. Backstage Press has become a part of me. It is a labor of love, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I have had more opportunities because of this site than I could have ever imagined. I have met some great people, learned a lot about the scene and found a home in writing about what I love. So with that said, I would like to wrap this up by saying thank you.
Thank you to my close group of friends for helping me every step of the way. Thank you to all the bands that took the time to sit down with me to make this possible. And finally, thank you, the readers. Without you, none of this would be worth anything. You all mean the world to me.
Five albums I couldn't live without:
(in no particular order)
1. Fall Out Boy - Take This To Your Grave
2. Anberlin - Cities
3. blink-182 - Self-Titled
4. Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory
5. The Used - Self-Titled
