Guitars:     Fender Stratocaster, Brian Moore iM

Amps:        Fender Twin, Peavey Delta Blues

Processors: Digitech GNX4, Roland GR-33 guitar

                 synth, Dunlop 535Q Crybaby

Blues: Kenny Wayne Shepherd. I have seen him live many times and even gotten the pleasure to meet him. He is an inspiration because he is a guy my age who just knows how to do it all. I recommend seeing him if you haven't. Stevie Ray, well he goes without saying, he was one of the greatest. And of course all of their influences B.B King, Albert King, Buddy Guy and so on.

Yes I even like Country. Waylon Jennings, Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash.... Brad Paisley and Keith Urban carry the torch well for new country music. I'm the only member of Native Tongue who will admit it though.
 

I played bass guitar in my high school jazz band, but always picked up my guitar when I got home. I was kind of modest about my playing so never really did a lot in high school. It's one regret I have. I met up with the original members of Native Tongue when I was 15. They let me in and still to this day pick on me for being the young one. That's ok because there is no age to music. It's all in fun (I think). After playing for a while with them I had to take a leave (college) but got back in with them a couple years later, with a couple of line up changes. In a way you could say we’ve been playing together for 13 years.

It's great playing with these guys, because we all share the love of music, but have quite a range of taste. We try to keep everyone happy (which is hard to do with Bob). What is very exciting for me is doing the music of the bands and artist we love, yet getting a chance now to write and sing our own tunes. Who knows maybe you'll see a Native Tongue album at your record store in the future.

The best accomplishment so far for me is that if it were not for being in this band with these guys I would not have met my beautiful wife Nikki. Yes, that’s right, I met her when we were playing her company Christmas party. Sometimes I pick on her for being my groupie. We now have two boys, Cale and Bretton, and another on the way, due in February. She puts up with all this band business and supports me fully. I couldn’t have a better wife. The boys are the light of my life and I think they have a little of the music bone in them. Cale loves to listen to Twisted Sister and Ozzy and Bretton loves to bang on his drum set, or anything that will resemble the noise. He’s not a bad little singer either, for a two year old.

We have been through a lot together not just as band mates, but friends as well. These guys have always been there for me. They were even the entertainment at my wedding, myself included. We played live music and Todd played D.J. when we weren’t playing. That's not something many people can say. Bob was even part of the wedding ceremony when he stood up in front of everyone and sang a solo version of Waylon Jennings "Come With Me." It was awesome and Bob is truly a man of special talent. All of these guys are (that’s what makes it easy to play with them). Those of you who have heard Native Tongue know this, but it's a true pleasure to play music with friends like Todd, Rob, Bob and now Mike.

I love to play guitar. It's kind of my way of giving back to the artists who have inspired me. Keeping it alive if you will, in a time when good music is hard to come by. When you have four people that are good at what they do, as are the members of Native Tongue, it's nothing but a good time. Hope to see you on the dance floor.