I've been in Kirby Krackle longer than any other band. Longer than my college-era bands. Longer than Explone. Longer than I spent in high school and college combined. We've recorded albums and singles, created videos, toured both nationally and internationally, occasionally bumped shoulders with celebrities on the way in and out of backstage dressing rooms, and generally had a fantastic time doing it. I've been fortunate to do things with this group that I never thought I'd ever get to do in my lifetime.
It's time to step aside and let someone else in on the fun. This Friday I'll be playing my last gig with Kirby Krackle at our 8th Annual Kracklefest concert at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle. Kracklefest is an official ECCC event this year, and we've got Lucia Fasano, we've got Megaran, and a small strike force of comedians to entertain you between sets.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my wife and partner Megan, who had my back from beginning to end. And also to all former and current members of KK, all of the musicians we shared a stage with, and particularly to Kyle, whose enduring talent, belief, and drive built this whole machine and keeps it moving forward. And of course, the fans who came even when it wasn't con season, who knew the songs by heart and sang along with us.
And is it the end, really? For now, yeah. I plan to spend a good chunk of this year taking a breather, working on my own stuff and deciding what to do with the rest of my life.
Here are some notable moments of my just-shy-of-a-decade tenure:
First announcement on my blog in 2009.
Bungie's The Taken King party where Kyle managed to stay alive.
Australia and D23 from last year.
Here's us playing "Tony Stark" at our 2010 Emerald City Comic-Con appearance, joined by Joe Quesada (then Editor In Chief of Marvel Comics, now Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment) on guitar.
One of my favorite songs from the Super Powered Love album, "Nerd Money." Try and guess all the references:
In 2011 we wrote the theme song to Marvel's web series "The Watcher" and this was the official video:
Here's us leading an audience sing-along of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Paul and Storm, Nerds With Guitars and the Doubleclicks at Kracklefest 2013:
"Booty Do Math" at the 2011 Seattle Interactive Conference, part of a battle of nerdy bands. I spiked up my hair at the last minute and this is probably the coolest I've ever looked onstage.
The official video for "World Full Of Heroes," featuring a horde of fans in costume and filmed at Nick's Jr. Burgers and Gyros just up the road from our rehearsal space.
Covering A-ha's "Take On Me" for Kracklefest 2012:
In 2013 we went to the Calgary Fan Expo to open for "Weird Al" Yankovic in front of the most enormous crowd I've ever played for to date. The whole concert can be seen here. Here's a fan-shot video of us playing "Roll Over":
The official video for "One More Episode," another one of my favorites:
Also in 2016 we got to contribute some original songs to Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy animated TV show. This is "Gotta Get Back":
The 2016 single "New Infidelity" is another personal favorite (and I did the cover art, which has nothing to do with it I swear):
Covering "Let's Go Crazy" at the High Dive in Seattle, early 2016:
Gentlemen: it's been an honor. Excelsior.