Failed Careers In Music: Virginia Is For Lovers (2003 - 2003)

Here is another attempt at music that was a horrible failure (as some would consider). I however, found this band to be a success for a number of reasons. Some people actually did like this music, as well as the fact that it does exist on my iPod. So, here is a brief history of a band that I used to be in (which was much better than the last).

After Dead End Dreams broke up, we tried to do another band, which resulted in one practice and no results. I wanted to play music, and had heard that a few mutual friends of Every Waking Moment need a bass player (Mikey wasn't cutting it, obviously, with his lack of talent and looks, and whatever else he lacks). It consisted of Tom Porter (guitars/vocals for Runner Up, a popular local pop-punk band at the time), Chad Smith with his flaming red mane, and a 15 year old Danny Skelly. I showed up at Tom's house at the time with my combo amp, ready to learn some songs, which I did and we played no more than 11 shows, but more on that later.

The sound of this band would be somewhat considered screamo (as far as the mainstream version of this went), with bands like Underoath, I Have Dreams, Boys Night Out, and Hot Cross as a few influences. Unfortunately, none of us had experience playing this music, so I guess you could say it was good for beginners. Anyway, we decided to record. Our three song EP was called XOXO, and was recorded by local ska-punk band leader Jim Nefferdorf of Brownie Points fame. Here's the tracklist;

1.Blood On The Moon

2.Close My Eyes

3.If I Had A Knife

So we started playing shows, 11 total, and crossed the state of Florida, which was cool since that was a first for most of us. We even played at The Social in Orlando, which was quite odd. We became friends with a band called If I Should Die in Jacksonville, and were close with Every Waking Moment, so they always had shows for us. We played in Lake Wales once, and Haines City (which is the South Daytona to Daytona Beach, essentially). Lake Wales had a creepy, abandoned hotel we went into, which I will never go into again. We met Andy, who was a super good dude, and actually had a great deal of fun in this band.

We eventually wrote a few more songs, which I wish we had recorded (The only title I can remember from any of them was "On Top Of The World, At The Foot Of This Hotel"). We even did a cover of Tatu's "All The Things She Said" (which was awesome). I'm not quite sure how we called it quits, but we did.

Today, Tom and Danny live together in Texas. Danny is an incredible artist, while Tom still writes damn good music. Chad just got a job working for the Gainesville Sun. And we all know where I stand. I miss these guys.

Failed Careers In Music: Dead End Dreams (2002 - 2002)

Of my many musical forays, I will always have a black mark on my record. Sure, we've all had our embarrassing first bands (for those of you who play instruments). But none so great as the abomination that hit Daytona in 2002. Just thank the heavens that this monstrosity stayed within city limits, and lasted less than a handful of months. Welcome to the story of Dead End Dreams.

First of all, there really isn't much to say about a band that's name came up while the drummer was taking a shit. The band started out as three kids banging on newly acquired instruments. I had just gotten my first bass, while Josh had just gotten his first guitar. The first time we ever played together consisted of playing shitty Linkin Park covers in his bedroom, while his creepy brother pulled all of his hair out from some disorder. At some point, Austin gets his first drumset, which he sets up and bangs on for a few weeks before we decide to start putting music together.

So we start getting some things loosely written and realize that we don't have a singer. At this point, we promptly recruit Calvin, a 19 year old Misfits fanatic who was a bit loud, but thought that it would be alright. He also had a car, which the three 15 year olds in the band didn't. So, we write.

With hit songs like "Necrobeastiality" and "Crash and Burn" we decided to try out a set of shitty covers and even shittier originals at some birthday party in Josh's front yard. Terrible. There was also the tiny show we played in my parents backyard. Horrific. After getting a taste of playing to other people, we thought it would be a good idea to see about playing a Daytona Hardcore show. Being newcomers, we had no idea what was going on. Our first show was basically every Daytona band we knew playing the Church. Runner-up, The Autumn Offering, Fortitude, Every Waking Moment, and Dead End Dreams played. And blew.

This was the notorious show where the cover of Minor Threats "Small Man, Big Mouth" was accompanied by Calvin reading the lyrics off a tiny pad of paper in his hand. Thus solidifying our place outside of Daytona Hardcore, and officially banning us from the Cool Club.

There was also the show at the abandoned-movie-theatre-turned-venue called Almost Music, with Of A Divergent Blood, Every Waking Moment, The Autumn Offering, Suffocate Faster, Affront, and A Life Once Lost (what?). This clusterfuck of a makeshift battle of the bands was also the night I lost my virginity, thus putting a nice cap on the end of our streak as Daytona's Second Worst Band.

So, there it is. The most embarrassing period of time in my life. Today, Josh is in Korea serving in the army. Calvin is a tattoo artist somewhere in the tiny state of Connecticut. Austin is a father of a boy named Asa and lives in Orlando. And you all know my story. I will say this; if anyone has tape recordings or video of this colossal auditory STD, then let me know. I'd love to make sure the world never sees it again.