Photo: Jim Merithew

Born and Raised: Clayton, Ohio

Instruments Played: Bass, Guitar, Cello, Mandolin

Favorite TDA Song to Perform Live: "Them Hippies Was Right"
Love that groove.

Start With TDA: I went to an audition at Patty's house back in 1991. There were a dozen or more accordion players, plus TDA's original drummer, Bill Schwartz. It sounded pretty bizarre, disorienting even, a sonic swirl kinda like being on a merry-go-round. At some point, Paul said something to the accordionists like, "Don't worry about playing that left hand part now that we've got a bass player." Of course, nobody ever asked me if I wanted to join the band. Oh well.

First Started Playing Music: Started piano lessons at age 6

Other Bands (Past or Present): The Mad Maggies, the Electric Boogie Dawgz, the White Trash Debutantz

Favorite Bands: Nine Pound Hammer, Ass Ponys, the Polkaholics, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Rollins Band, James Brown, Ohio Players, Steely Dan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, classic country like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Dale Watson, Junior Brown and Hanks I, II and III. I especially like truck-driving songs by the likes of Dick Curless, Dave Dudley, Red Sovine and Red Simpson.

Favorite Road Food: Barbecued anything.

Other Hobbies and Interests:Motorcycles, cooking, smoking meat, reading, writing and sleeping late.