The best I can remember, the event itself took place in the gymnasium of a derelict school in Southeastern North Carolina, and if I didn’t have a mid-’80s mullet by that time, I soon did. It was all within a two year mid high school heavy metal period where I collected and inflicted on my ears the LPs of bands such as Iron Maiden, Storm Troopers of Death and Queensryche. These all fell by the wayside, however, with an introduction to Cliff Burton era Metallica.

My hairstyle changed dramatically thanks to the Cure, the Smiths, the Smithereens, Bauhaus, Love & Rockets, Siouxsie & The Banshees and such, but mostly the Cure (thanks big sis). Robert Smith’s music caused my hair to reach its most extreme state on record. I heard Joy Division’s “love will tear us apart” on WUSC, Columbia around the fall of 1988 and fell in love with the godfathers of post punk. The only embarrassing one of these would be the Smiths I think. I still love the music, but seriously, have you listened to Morrissey’s lyrics? Quit whining dude and take in a movie or someting.

Graduation from college in the mid 90’s meant time to slack, listen to music, and go to shows. Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Superchunk, Guided by Voices, Mogwai, Sunny Day Real Estate, Modest Mouse, Grandaddy, Cat Power, Archers of Loaf, Low, etc. That takes me up to about 1999. The following 10 years would take too long, so thanks for all the great tea A&D, and I/we salute you!

At one of my early concerts, Foghat at the New Haven Coliseum, I recall having a great time. We were seated up in the nosebleed section next to this rowdy crowd from the University of Connecticut. These guys drove down from the Storrs campus and they were really into Foghat big-time. They nearly exploded during Slow Ride.

One of the guys offered us a bottle of what he called UConn Jack. We polished it off in minutes. Only later in life did I learn that it is NOT UConn Jack (named after the University of Connecticut), but Yukon Jack – a 100 proof Canadian whiskey.

Now if you know the New Haven Coliseum at all, you may know the parking garages were elevated off the street and you had to use long corkscrew ramps to drive up/down. I have a vague recollection of laying out splayed on the hood of a car while we drove down the corkscrew ramp. I wanted to be a living hood ornament. It may have or have not happened.

My memory of this event remains clouded. Maybe some tea will awaken my synapses.

The first record I purchased with my own money was Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall. I remember calling the local college radio station one night to request “Rock With You” and they shouted into the phone (and on the air): “DISCO SUCKS!”

Speaking of being on another planet, the new Earl Grey ROCKS!! I had my first brew of it today and it’s divine! Totally unique and worthy of rockstar status!

p.s. Current faves: Neko Case, Wilco, Spoon, The National, Honeyhoney

As far as embarrassing bands, my first favorite band was Night Ranger. A few years later I had moved on to awesome stuff like Level 42 and Howard Jones. But that was a secret, because I was a metalhead in High School, and that sort of thing wasn’t allowed. Had to rock the Whitesnake, Guns n’ Roses and Cult to be cool back then. Oh, and Poison. F’real. None of this liking a hair metal band for the ironic effect garbage.

P.S. Thanks for the great tea. Still enjoying Series 2. Will order up some Series 3 soon.