I was lucky growing up in and around Boston. Granted, I officially grew up in Maine, but in hardcore terms, my growing up occurred in Worcester, MA. I spent some of the best years of my life rolling around Worcester, from age 18 to 23. This was a good time for Massachusetts hardcore. 1998 to 2003. Boston Straight Edge Still On Top. It also didn’t hurt that I rolled with a very active crew. For years, I lived with dudes who would go on or had already been in some big bands or record labels. I was just that guy who got to ride the wave with them. Lugging guitar heads, selling merch or just riding in the van. The roommate/housemate members of list is pretty cool. Converge, Bane, Knockdown, CBP, Deathwish Inc Records, The Dialtones, Barrit, Relm, The Sheist, Only Crime, The Life Recording Company, Incite, fortydaysrain, Cannae and of course, Stop And Think.

During the summer of 98, I rolled to many, many shows with AJ. At this time, AJs roommates were doing their own thing, not core related. Hallee was hanging with the FTC crew in SF, Blair was whining about girls. I was living rent free in Hallee’s room. Running everyday, and going to shows with AJ after he got out of work. We’d roll to The Space or down to Connecticut. Whether it was to the Tune Inn for a Tenfold reunion or The Met Cafe for the Rev Tour, we were down to roll. Summer 98 was one of the best and AJ was to thank for a lot of that.

Fast forward 3 summers. AJ had moved into Boston with a bunch of dudes (with an even great lineage than the one I listed above, probably). He was starting a band with his roommates and I got a chance to see them play out. I heard some of the early recordings and was around for a lyric critique. It was a cool sight. Next thing you know, they are playing Mass Art and the crowd is going wild. AJ would mosh on stage and flip into the crowd, all without losing the mic. It was impressive. Now if Mental would just release a new record, we could get another Stop And Think show. Someone set that up.

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