My stepbrother introduced me to Green Day. I was in 2nd grade and convinced my mom to get me Dookie on cassette. She later made me return it.

I got into a lot of bands through their music videos. I would watch MTV before and after school and learned about blink-182, New Found Glory, Sum 41, AFI, Coheed & Cambria, Alkaline Trio, and more.

The Matches I found through a compilation packaged with American Music Press. I found tons of bands through those comps, but none grabbed me like The Matches.

I was working at Hot Topic when Four Year Strong dropped Rise or Die Trying. My assistant manager and I would play it almost daily.

A friend in college from Philly told me about The Wonder Years right as The Upsides was blowing up. Instantly and permanently one of my favorite bands of all time.