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.