We’re winding down 2025, and it was a watershed year for me in some important ways. I want to thank the community of friends who supported my musical life this year by coming to shows, buying merch, and following along online. I’m trying to make a go of it in the independent music world, and that simply doesn’t work without the support and connection of people like you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Here are a few musical accomplishments from 2025 that I’m especially proud of:
• I played 37 shows, both solo and with my band, traveling roughly 1,757 miles with the cowpunk crew to make dates from Buffalo Center to Maquoketa and many points in between. I played to the biggest audiences of my musical career this year, and I’m grateful for every single chance to tune up my guitar and sing my songs.
• I taught nearly 500 guitar lessons to more than 30 students. I’m still a little amazed by how successful teaching has become for me, and by how much joy it brings. Teaching was my most reliable source of income in 2025, and connecting with students and watching them find their voices as musicians has become one of the greatest gifts music has given me.
• I put serious effort into writing about the independent music world and had the privilege of interviewing some true legends of the rock underground. Writing for Iowa Public Radio, I spoke with Bob Mould, Ani DiFranco, HR of Bad Brains, Michael Azerrad, and Bloodshot Records founder Rob Miller, among others.
• I helped launch a new news section for xBk Live, the Des Moines music venue where I lead promo efforts. The section went live in late summer and now features artist profiles and stories about the incredible things happening in the xBk community. Getting to work with people who care this deeply about independent music is, quite honestly, a dream come true.
I hope to top all of this in 2026. With your continued support, I believe I can. Next year, let’s keep choosing connection over convenience. Let’s reject plastic, algorithm-fed trash and instead show up for the artists in our own communities who are putting their hearts on the line to make something honest and original.
We can do it together.
Happy New Year.
See you in 2026.