“In 1990 I heard Elvis Costello’s “Veronica” on the radio for the first time. Years later, I heard “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror” on an MTV ‘unplugged’ CD compilation. Few years after that, in my Punk/Ska, bad-ass high school years, I picked up a specials Album on saw that none other than E.C. himself produced. Ever since then I’ve been hooked. I’ve played music, all instruments, all genres, and modeled it after E.C. I know it’s not cool to have heros in an Indie/Punk Rock/hardcore scene... but Elvis Costello has impacted my life more than anyone ever could. –Bernie

“Failure, Everbody has failed at something in their lifetime. Its all part of the learning process in life. Their have been times in my life where I have failed and instead of looking at all the negatives, I try to see the positives. For example, I experienced a failed relationship and I focused on anything positive I could. I tried to realize that instead of mourning and being sad all the time, I realized that maybe being single was better off, for me or even that maybe this girl wasn’t the one and now I might be able to meet her in the future. –K.”

"The music makes me and makes me think of the girl I love. She don't know it yet, but when I show her she will know the feeling. 7/15/05"

"I sit here, pen in hand, trying to pinpoint what major thing has impacted my life, but there have been so many. To choose out of the myriad of experiences, all precious and crucial in their own right... the ugly, the beautiful, the cynically in-between... is as hard as choosing the big dick, the small -but hard working, and the median. They may all feel good, but in different ways. But we're at Rex's. Live music is the medium of sound. So I will choose music. The big dick (rap) taught me how to dance, the small dick (the likes of Billy Joel and Elton John) taught me how to croon without the element of self-consciousness, and the inbetween (disco) taught me how to be alive yet loved, wild yet tameable, delicious yet tasteable. And I taste good."


"Moving into the New Brunswick NJ area, in the mid 90's, where I discovered the New Brunswick music scene. This rejuvanated my passion for music & writing, which I had abandoned for over a decade. Since the spark hit, I began writing a music collumn covering the music scene, managed a local artist + DJed at my almamada - college of S.I. - WSIA-FM. Began writing lyrical poetry, performing my poetry with musical accompaniment, put togethor a CD which was favorably reviewed by several publications. Now, living in West Chester, PA, I found similar situations, artists, scene and am working on my 2nd cd with mainly musicians I met in PA. Turning point was, while looking through stuff to throw out, finding a letter that a high school friend wrote me while he was in the Navy. It said something like 'you wrote me a 3 page letter and not one word about Music. Jeff is sitting on his ass again.' The letter was written 15 years prior + it still held true. It inspired me to check out the New Brunswick scene that I had been living near for 2 1/2 years. –J. M.”

"American children are being raised in a bubble... Ask me what impacts my life? Watching others in this country who are oblivious to the priveledged society they have been raised in impacts me every day. In this country, children are raised to believe that they are "entitled" to a certain quality of living. They do not comprehend that the the things they take for granted, (sodas, electricity, water, telephones, etc.) other people have never even experienced. Americans get angry when the power goes off for no reason. But there are people who live their entire lives and never have electricity. Children here believe that they are gauranteed certain things, and watching these naive children live this way makes me grateful for every day that I wake up in such a priveledged society. I wish everyone could truly appreciate everything they have."

"Iron maiden had a major impact on my life dan. If it weren't for the monster clad record covers i'd probably be paying child support to a woman who hated me. iron maiden taught me to look outside of the world that existed around me. taught me to think critically - question things and make decisions for myself. long live heavy metal. –E."

"Christmas Eve 7 years ago, as 26 guests arrived @ my home for a holiday party - my house caught fire. 4 firetrucks later & a lot of surprised guests - in a moment I realized truly that everyone is on loan to us. Grateful to be alive, having lost all my worldly possesions - I walked away with the clothes on my back - covered in soot, I began a different path - one which I walk not alone but with an ever present reminder that we are souls in a human condition. I practice gratitude on a daily basis - for my family, friends, life itself. It is not possessions but kindred spirits, honestly, truth is unconditional love that are important. Everyone has something."


"One time I was waiting for an airplane and it was delayed by 3 hours because of storms. So I played soccer in the terminal with 4 other kids. My team lost 7.4. I scored 2 goals. From that time on I decided I should try to go pro in soccer. –S."

"I borrowed an ashtray once. The man slid it down the bar and the ashes flew into the air disrupting the other patrons. It was an abomination to them to have cigarette ash blown in their faces. I sweetly smiled grabbed it and lit my cig. –C. J. F."

"I guess Death is popular but... Any near death experience will make you look at something a little closer. One time I was held under water by a wave, and thought I was never comin up. It was a slow thought about a moment, trust me, it just made me realize that it could happen when you least expect it. Live it up!"