Today is my birthday. This one marks 20 years of being involved in the music business. This is the story of how I got my start: My first time witnessing live punk rock was at tomfest in 98! I basically had my mind blown over and over again. One concert, however, would change my life. I stumbled upon a set by Shorthanded. For their finale, they threw out all sorts of merch – cd’s, shirts, stickers, buttons, picks, a drum head. This was over-the-top since the crowd felt kind of sparse. (They would later describe this as the stupidest thing they ever did). In the merch grab, I missed out on the all t-shirts and cd’s. Somehow I ended up with the drum head. Later that day I walked to their merch table and asked if they could sign it. A conversation ensued and I learned they would come play in my town a few hours away for gas money !!!!!!. I got their phone number. After the festival, I went home and told my mom all about the concert and showed her the phone number. A few days later, she called Shorthanded and asked them to come play my 17th birthday party. She then asked me if I had a location for the show. I didn’t but I found a place. 100 kids came out last minute. We had a blast! My music "career" had begun. The opening band The Beldings would go on to have a huge impact on my life. I booked them nearly a dozen times – in fact – I still use one their moves “mini-moshing” at shows sometimes. The power went out during Shorthanded’s set. They played to me and about 3 friends while I sat on the stage – soaking in a memory. Whenever we play a show with just a few people, I try and remember that event knowing Shorthanded still played for a 17-year-old on his birthday, with the power out and it changed his life. This madness all started over a drum head. Thank you Shorthanded. I'm in Ames, Iowa today for @maximumames fest playing a @goodsaintnathanael set at 8pm in the Khoi Studios. #mamf8 #maximumames #GoodSaintNathanael #tomfest #shorthanded #thebeldings #minimoshing #punkrockbaptism #destroynateallen (at KHOI Community Radio) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoUarYxHQOL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kysupo4k5ti2