fortunate: a decade of sounds.

November 30, 2019.

the end of this year will mark the closing of a second full decade in my lifetime. the span of time from 2010 up until December 31, 2019, has been, and will surely continue to be, a ride. I feel particularly some kind of way about the fact that I have graduated both high school and undergraduate in this decade. i could never have been ready for the journey the past decade has been. it’s overwhelming to think about how much growth happened. there was saying goodbye to my family for the very first time. there was my first true heartache. there were many joyous days and nights. long car rides. short runs. long runs. to think, it was within this time period that i first started running, seems unnreal. ten years ago, these moments were unknown.

if I could meet 2010 drew, I’m not sure what exactly I would say. I know that kid was in pain and still trying to understand grief. I know that he struggled to feel at peace, or in place. More than anything, I know he would absolutely love to know how the following nine years would sound.

so every day for the last month of the decade, I’m updating this page with a track and a story behind the sounds. you can skip the words and just listen to the playlist here.

until tomorrow,

drew

December 1, 2019.

Paperthin Hymn by Anberlin

My dad introduced me to Anberlin sometime in my early teens. Bands like Anberlin, Norma Jean or Underoath played constantly through the summers working at a Christian camp. Walking into the dish pit, you were likely at the music mercy of whoever started first that day. Released in 2005, the album this song is on was not new in 2010. However, songs seem to find a renewed energy when they fall on the right ears. When this song came on at the ice cream shop I spent my later summers at, Tom, a fellow scooper, was energized. “Paperthin Hymn” become a frequent flyer of the airwaves at Bonkey’s ice cream. This song has solidified itself as a great break-up tune, gym jam, or even a power song as one scrubs of flecks of dried dairy from the milkshake machine. If memory serves - Tom even had this as his ringtone at somepoint.

December 2, 2019.

Hard Times by Paramore

As far as albums of the decade, I would have to put After Laughter by Paramore within the top ten on my list. The album doesn’t shy away from emotional topics; instead the band approaches areas of mental health and wellness with an upbeat arrangement. Coming from a band that has been well-established in emo pop-punk, “Hard Times” is a track that scene kids can dance to that doesn’t feel forced. When the album first came out, I was recently settling back into life on the East Coast, after spending several months living in Seattle. Still trying to find my identity outside of college, “Hard Times” felt like the chorus I’d been singing for over a year. The following year, Vito and I got the chance to see the band on a tour promoting the album. When I tried to order a drink, I was asked to give my ID and two forms of credit, because the bar tender just was not sure that I was 21. Right before the concert was set to start, an emergency weather warning was called. The entire crowd rushed to fit under the only tent at the pavillion, which was effectively a sand pit with a 24 foot by 24 foot wood platform in the middle. We sat on these wood beams surrounded by young adults with bright colors and glittering mascara as dark clouds choked out the sunlight. The funny thing is that we knew that the storm would pass - we were ready to dance.

December 3, 2019.

This is How it Feels to Have a Broken Heart by Guster

Guster was my Dave Matthews Band in college. You’ve probably heard Guster and didn’t know it. If you have eaten at a Subway, I could almost bet money that “Satellite” by Guster was on the radio at some point. I saw the band play alongside Jack’s Mannequin in 2011, which was when I first heard this song. However, it wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I really fell in love with their music. The band constantly finds clever and poppy ways to tell stories, without losing their “folk” sensibilities.

My first “serious” relationship ended my sophomore year of college. I felt out of place for a long time after that, but in the immediate aftermath I had decided to take a page from my boss at Bonkey’s and shave my head. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I shaved my head because of the breakup. I will say that it was an opportune time to do so, though. Having a bald head does change your perspective on things like the weather or how people look at you. I remember having a sunburnt head pretty frequently. I remember sending a picture of my shaved head to my mom (while wearing a Guster t-shirt) and I remember that she was not as excited about the baldness as I was.

Throughout the spring of 2013, I listened to Guster more than any other band I can remember. They have a “fresh” sound about them. Even when they are recounting all the signs that led to that broken heart.

December 4, 2019.

Downtown by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

One of my favorite things about moving somewhere new is the first few runs where you are totally new to the streets. There are thousands of possibilities in tiny destinations or details you get to discover for the first time. When Vito and I moved to Seattle, “Downtown” was a new single. It was hilarious to learn the city alongside this song. (Macklemore is a Seattle native.) To me, this song is about discovery and the freedom to renew your love for a place by traversing it differently. Months after running in the city, it was easy to take two or three different streets and recapture that “new” feeling.

December 5, 2019.

I Can Feel a Hot One by Manchester Orchestra

This one is funny because when we saw this band live, it was a hot one. During the Firefly of 2015, we had the opportunity to see Manchester play twice - once during their “full” set and later during an acoustic session. The latter occurred inside a cramped tent. Despite the heat (or maybe because of), the crowd was quiet and still, hanging on Andy’s every word. Well, all but one person that kept shouting, “Andy, take your shirt off!” I loved spending a few minutes in silent awe with my friends - a reprieve from the constant jumping of Mat and Kim or the endless dancing during Bastille. One of us fell asleep enjoying a Dogfish Head beer. Two of us bought $9 salads, as known to Firefly as lettuce in a hot dog tray. The night before the last day, a storm started dumping rain and high winds on the campgrounds. We frantically packed our entire site up and waited for a call to cancel the festival. We spent maybe two hours in a hot car, but it felt like forever. The stench of four dudes cramped up in my tiny Hyundai was probably in my top three of “Most Miserable Moments.” I couldn’t have picked a better group to spend a weekend in the Woodlands with.

December 6, 2019.

Erase Me by Kid Cudi

My alternative pick for this song would have to be “Dr. Pill” by WZRD. However, there is no denying the importance of this song in the history of Susquehannock High School Boys’ Soccer. I don’t have historical proof, but I’m willing to bet that “Erase Me” was played every single day inside the locker room. High school soccer meant so much to me, but not because I ever had a prayer of playing after I graduated. I always loved soccer, but I never felt like it was something I had to commit to outside of our normal practices in rec ball. When Thomas first encouraged me to try out, he mentioned there was a time requirement for the mile. So, I started running. It wasn’t until soccer ended that I would find running enjoyable. Before the end of the season, running was either a punishment or a by-product of chasing the ball. When our final season was over, I felt this immense loss of self. If I wasn’t playing soccer, what was I going to do? I didn’t want to join other sports, because I worked at the ice cream shop. So, I kept running. And running. And running. The new sport of running became a way to destress and unwind my thoughts. It allowed me to stay in shape while “testing” ice cream flavors. I wouldn’t be the same person today if it weren’t for the encouragement to try out for the team.

December 7, 2019.

I Dreamt We Spoke Again by Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab’s frontman, Ben Gibbard, is an artist I feel like I’ve grown up with. Throughout the 2010’s, Ben has grown into an ultra-marathoner. At one point in time, he would share playlists that he was using on long runs. I picked up a few great bands from those mixes. Yellow Ostrich being one of them. Ben’s story of running is about replacing the comfort of alcohol with the challenge and reward of pushing your body and spirit. There is an obvious pay-off in the music he and his fellow band mates have put out in the last decade. I’ve gotten to see DCFC twice in the past year - one show with my dad and another with Vito. The latter also happened to be on the last day at my first job out of college. Sitting alongside the Susquehanna River, the venue was a short walk from the capital building in Harrisburg. Just minutes before the band took to the stage, “the sky opened up and let it all out.” Honestly, the rain fit the vibe of the Seattle-native band. That night I felt the same way that I used to on the first day of summer vacation - not ready to close the chapter, but already looking ahead.

December 8, 2019.

Lemonade by Sophie

Not the “Lemonade” that most people would select for the decade. I’m not too sure how I came across this song, but it is something my sister and I have come to love… if you could ever really love a song like this… I’m thankful for silly moments like these. Growing up nine years apart from my sister has been both a blessing and a curse. I’ve loved watching her grow into her own person. I’ve also missed many of those growing moments because I was at school or living away, growing in my own right. Still, we when see each other and can reunite to the sweet, sweet sounds of “Lemonade”, it feels like we never missed anything. Cheers.

December 9, 2019.

Graceless by The National

The winter that I discovered the National was also one of the snowiest winters I can remember. I specifically remember being so caught up in this song that I mindless walked onto an ice patch. The patch was the length of a city block, on West Chester’s notoriously crooked sidewalks. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to exit the now-slide as easily as I had entered. I ended up using the umbrella from inside my book bag to row myself onto the less-icy road. The National has this unfortunate label of being a band about death. While many, if not most, of their songs are melancholy the albums as a whole tend to point more to humanness. In “Graceless” there is this ongoing conversation between the narrator and some unknown party. From what we can gather, the narrator has gone through something or done something that warrants disappearing - or at least mentally checking out. The lyric “God loves everybody, don’t remind me,” comes off as a passing comment that tries to dismiss the comfort given by a friend. As much as this song is about forgetting something or something, or yourself for a while, it is also a conversation and a statement about how, in our worst moments, we need an ear to hear our honest dismissals.

December 10, 2019.

Suit & Tie by Justin Timberlake ft. JAY-Z

The full-length album that “Suit & Tie” is on, The 20/20 Experience, was released in the spring of 2013. During the spring and summer of 2013, Nate and I were training for a triathlon and making hundreds of boxes of ice cream. I remember Nate putting this album on in the “kitchen” of the ice cream shop right as we shuffled in on one of those early mornings. This song takes me back to the monotonous labor that is prepping a batch of ice cream - grab carton of cream, pour cream into machine, turn on freezer-thing, stamp boxes, build boxes, prep mix-ins, grab carton, stamp more boxes, dispense current batch… Some mornings we would be in the shop at 6AM to make ice cream, and then clean-up around lunch and open one of the stores - so we wouldn’t get home until 10 or 11 at night. Some mornings Nate would bike over to the shop as part of “training.” One day, in between the batches, he said, “I’m going to run three miles. Time me and also lock the door behind me.” And took off out the door. Our “training” also included one visit to the pool at LA Fitness, where we might have swam for 30 minutes or 10 laps, I’m not sure. I do know that training was not even comparable to the ocean water we actually had to swim in. Nate was always willing to try out events - we ran two Tough Mudder races together too. Having a friend to hold you accountable during your training, but also during your event, makes your efforts feel more purposeful. I’m thankful for that extra push to keep trying new things. Here’s to the years of summer soccer, improv workout sessions, and gallons of ice cream.

***

The season of this song was also the season of the Boston Bombing. I remember running the blocks by my dorm one chilly spring morning wearing the “Boston Strong” t-shirt that WCU was fundraising with. Back then, marathons were just an event to me. The bombing was scary and wrong, but the feeling didn’t connect with me until after I ran 26.2 miles. When you are about to cross that finish line and there are all these people willing and wishing you forward, it feels like a wave. You cross into this space where your brain and body try to catch up with each other. For so many, the finish line is a moment of triumph and embrace. In 2013, that openness was exploited as weakness. Races won’t ever be the same.

December 11, 2019.

Smoke Signals by Phoebe Bridgers

I am pretty sure I first heard “Smoke Signals” on one of my Discover Weekly playlists. I heard this single and fell in love with the track - only to find out that, at the time, there was very little music available from Phoebe online. This song sort of covers all of 2017 - because it was a January 2017 single and the album was released in September of the same year. Anyways, this song is one of my go-to cool down songs after a run. It could easily be a winter or a fall song, which is why I love it so much. In the beginning of 2017, I was just returning from Seattle. I remember feeling like I was trying to find the same sense of self that I knew I didn’t have when I left. The incredible thing about a home is that it is there, no matter where you go. Sometimes, it may not feel the same. Even when the faces age and the appliances change, the corners are all the same. It’s the same basement you were afraid to be alone in. The sun rises through the same windows. Time passes in the same way it always did at home. When I moved back in, I was thankful for this steadiness. Applying to jobs, unpacking, and resorting out the life I had hurriedly fit into a compact car was tiring. Home made it easy to recharge. Then, when I accepted a job and moved to Mount Joy, this song was a comfort during early morning training runs and weekend walks. When I hear this song in the fall, I think of Folklore Coffee, and the hot chocolates Vito and I would sip there. Some nights, we would text before leaving work and say something like, “Lore?”. If I’ve learned anything this past decade it is that friendship isn’t always about the loud, fast moments. The most pure moments are those moments where you can fill the same space with someone and that energy is enough. Being there, really being there, is the best and most you can to someone.

December 12, 2019.

How Great by Chance the Rapper ft. Jay Electronica and Nicole Steen

The 2016 album Coloring Book by Chance is arguably one of the best albums of the past decade. I listened to this song through many training runs prepping for the Seattle Marathon. Around ten miles into the race, this woman pulled up beside me and started matching my pace - almost stride for stride. We ran “together” in silence for three miles or so, before she said that I was running the perfect pace for her goal. This was my first marathon race and I was fully committed to spending the next couple of hours alone - mentally and physically. When she first started running with me, I was a little confused and perhaps a touch of annoyed. However, when she said that she was glad to have found me as a pacer, I felt like I wasn’t even running my own race anymore. My goal was now to help her meet her goal. Between breaths, we started talking about running and life. For her, those two worlds were almost inseparable. She met her then-husband at the University of Washington, where he was running track. They started running together. At some point, Summer received some medical diagnosis that seemed to suggest her time was shorter than anticipated. The silver lining? Running would help prolong her time. The summer of 2016, before the Seattle race, Summer’s husband was killed in a car accident. As we weaved through the streets of the city, she recalled all of this joy and pain. She went on to say that since his passing, she was running every marathon she could in his honor. Seattle was her 6th. (That’s like six in four months). She wanted to share her story as a way of remembering her husband, honoring her own battle, and reminding us all why we lace up and subject ourselves to hours of hard, hard labor. By the last mile, it was Summer that was pacing me. She told me that the last miles are never going to get easier, but if you focus on what’s ahead and allow yourself to get through each little challenge, you’ll be amazed at what you can do. I was definitely amazed that day, but it wasn’t because of I what I had done.

“How Great”’s worth grew an immeasurable amount after the conclusion of the 2016 election. In many ways, the feelings that plaqued the country then, still haunt us today. Regardless of political views, there is no arguing that the country as a whole didn’t feel like celebrating in November of 2016. Chance’s song was something I would play first thing in the morning and constantly throughout the day. A song about praise. A song about unity. A song about something more than “I”. We could all use an ego-check.

December 13, 2019.

Maps by The Front Bottoms

I first heard The Front Bottoms sometime around May of my senior year of high school. The song “Maps” is this mix of dance beats, orchestral chords, and uncomplicated melodies - all of which are accompanied by an acoustic guitar. I loved driving around listening to this song. It’s an easy song to belt when you’re driving backroads during the summertime. “Maps” is a song about possibilities. It’s also a song about consequences. I don’t think I fully appreciated what either of those words meant until I moved away to college. You suddenly have all these choices, like how many different plates of food you want to eat at the dining hall. You could stay out all night if you wanted to. To me, sometimes the thought of consequences was problematic. I would get so nervous before an exam, because I was doing this completely on my own. I chose my own study times. I made my own schedule. Eventually, you learn to trust yourself and your own decisions. There are still moments of painful lessons, but if you find the right group of people, those lessons don’t sting as much.

December 14, 2019.

You are My Sunshine by The Royal Foundry

I’m not sure when I heard this version of the song for the first time. I love this song because it reminds me of home. When I would lay on the bed with my mom and she would sing this song. It reminds me of those nights where the thunderstorms were so loud, and I was terrified that a tree would fall on our house. It reminds me of evenings outside playing soccer with my dad. It reminds me of summers on the porch with my grandfather. It reminds me of rides with my grandmother as she drove me to camp. On the harder days, I think of these people and these places. What they meant to me then, what they mean to me now, and what they are going to mean later in life will undoubtedly change. They will always be home.

December 15, 2019.

Handwritten by The Gaslight Anthem

I listened to this album on repeat during our family vacation to Georgia. It was one of the first times that I got the “sleepies”. For days, I just don’t have the energy to do anything. I feel like a ghost. The summer of 2014, I was interning in my first corporate environment. It felt alienating and uninspiring. It felt like everyone was too busy to help me put together any projects. I think those days of feel lost caught up to me. Unfortunately, this episode occurred right before vacation to the woods of Georgia. I remember laying inside on the floor while my family was outside swimming. This vacation was riddled with tiny inconveniences. For example, Dad had a back injury right before we were set to go on a high-ropes course. Mom was a trooper and went up with Ali and I. Mom wobbling on the ropes while dad watched in worry from below was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Whenever we would drive, I would play “Handwritten”. At some point, the feeling just left. I felt energized and restored. At the end of the trip, we stopped by Athens to visit the University of Georgia. UGA was my dream school. Even though I was visiting as a sophomore in college, I loved seeing this place I had only known from pictures.

December 16, 2019.

Rejoice by Julien Baker

Julien Baker is an artist I’ve been a big fan of since 2016. I think of all the moments I associate with her music, living with my two best buds in Lancaster, PA has the strongest association. This association could be in part because she played a venue down the street while we were living there. She is so soft-spoken when she speaks to the crowd. We stood inside this club during the springtime and listened to her work through issues with an amplifier. The crowd was equally quiet - eager to listen and willing to wait through whatever issues arose. The apartment and area that we lived in was equal parts a pain and beautiful. There was a neighbor that “found” one of our packages that was stolen and wanted a finder’s fee. The roof leaked for the first month. Jordan swore that someone tried to break in one night. So, we put up a video camera. Soon after, someone threw a rock through our kitchen window. The same good-willed neighbor would ring our doorbell and ask for a ride. Often, a couple in the alley would fight or leave their car parked overnight, so as to not let any other cars through. Still, we had three floors to fill with laughter. Occassionally, all three floors would be filled with smoke from whatever Jordan decided to cook. It wasn’t always easy to grow in this space, but I miss the company of these two brothers. I cherish the walks to grab a bite or the sushi deliveries. The nights where we all got to sit at the table together were something special. Tuesday bagels were always meant to be shared.

December 17, 2019.

All Your Favorite Bands by Dawes

The first time I heard this album was during one of my early morning runs around West Chester. That morning it was foggy and damp - the way you “feel” the color grey should be. The spring semester of my junior year was one of my favorites. It was filled with outdoor adventures. It was the spring of my 21st, which I mostly associate with a marketing project on Dog Head Fish beer. That season everything felt open and “fresh”.

I love this song by Dawes. It’s short and sweet. It’s about closing the chapter sweetly and wishing the best for the other person. “May all your favorite bands stay together,” is a sentiment that grows more kind with age. I’ve grown sensitive to the endings of bands, and it’s not just because all of my favorites are dropping like flies. Music is one of the easiest ways for us to keep memories on file. Whether its the hits on the radio or our favorites on Spotify, music moves with us through time. When the bands or artists we chose to soundtrack our lives stop tracking, it can be difficult to find a sound that fills that space. Often times, a new artist brings us a new mindset. I guess this could all be part of growth. I hope you don’t grow up too quickly.

December 18, 2019.

NASA by Ariana Grande

To be honest, I’m not sure if one song could cover the two years at my first “career job”. When Ariana’s Thank u, next album came out, Kaylee and I spent the day in an album deep-dive. “NASA” is my clear favorite. Some days, there was no time for music. I think the number of days I took lunch is under 30. If I could pick a sound to represent this era, I think I would pick the Three Mile Island emergency test system. I remember at the end of my first week at the company, I stayed in the office until 7 PM that night working on a project. When I first started there, I wanted to be “married” to my job. I was excited to get in the office and I was often one of the last to leave. There were many late evening sessions. One of the greatest lessons from my time here is that, while jobs can be fulfilling and exciting, they will always be prone to mistakes (learning lessons) and stress (deep care?) As a young person who is out of the education system for the first time, it feels impactful to devote your being to your work. Work will be part of life for a long time. While those extra hours of labor were never wasted, I wished I had spent some of that time on myself, in different ways. Certainly, time was wasted on the evenings that I spent over-analyzing something that happened. Working hard is never an issue, so taking a break shouldn’t be either.

I think what makes the office so special is that there is this sense of urgency (or agency) in everyone. There is no easy job there. The friendships that formed during this time are truly a gift. These people are the folks that you would want on any of your teams - even a kickball league. There was always a reason to laugh in the office, even for a moment. I experienced my first Jimmy John’s sandwich. I politely told people that Identigo was around back, right next to the sign that stated the same thing. And then, when Identigo wasn’t around back, I told people that. We held 1 PM dance minutes. We had a few great scares. I’m thankful for the people that made work a second home.

December 19, 2019.

Snake Charmer by Blink-182

The one thing I cherish most of those high school memories was the chance to make music with some of my very talented friends. The band changed over the years - in lineup and in name. The night before we were set to perform our last battle of the bands event, we realized our new lineup didn’t have a name. Alex took one look at the building we practiced in and asked, “Oddfellows?” The name came from the building, the Odd fellows Hall, where we would practice each week. Of course, no high school band would be complete without some sort of conversation around blink-182. When we first jammed together, a couple members were into punk and pop-punk music, so we would warm-up with some blink cover. We performed “First Date” during our first battle. Over time, blink’s sound became something we enjoyed poking fun of. Four power chords, angst, and some distortion will provide endless inspiration.

When it was announced that Blink-182 would reunite and put out another album, there was considerable hype in school. I think a lot of people still bought the actual CD at that point… We listened to not much else through the spring and summer. Anyways, the band is a must-have on summer playlists and also offers a considerable number of gym hits. With this band, I can’t help but think about the late nights packing up our equipment after band practice. I remember cramming all this gear and a heap of cords into my black hatchback car. I’d get in, start the engine and the KENWOOD stereo unit would light up in phases of green, blue, purple and pink. The music would be way too loud.

December 20, 2019.

Decks Dark by Radiohead

The same day that I graduated from West Chester University, Radiohead released their first album in five years - A Moon Shaped Pool. Before the album’s release, there was a cryptic mail piece sent to fans in the UK with the album’s first single, “Burn the Witch”. The band had deleted their social media for weeks before the release. As my family and I drove away from the stadium, I logged onto iTunes and purchased the whole album. A few weeks later, I went to the local record store in West Chester and bought the double-vinyl record. I couldn’t get enough of the sounds that were on the album - the instruments, the vocals, and the tones. Radiohead isn’t known for feel-good lyrics, or of comforting sounds. I love “Decks Dark” because it quickly paints a picture for you. The instruments that open the song join together to build in what one might describe as “isolation”. It seems for a moment like a world that this song is living in is moving is slow motion. In the Spring of 2016, this album felt like an awakening - from the cold winter and from the last four years of undergrad. For spring break that year, Jordan, Vito, and I drove up to Boston. Everything about that trip felt “quiet” - after we got through Lincoln Tunnel and Boston traffic. We stopped somewhere in Connecticut to hike and at another water-side location to stare out at the water. This calmness, this reprieve from the whirlwind of school, was such a beautiful escape. At times, life can be so full of noise and busy-ness. You might not even notice until the moment you are surrounded with only air, sand, and water. There are some things in life that take a little longer to make sense; like what your life in the educational system has meant or what is going on in a Radiohead album.

December 21, 2019.

Miss Atomic Bomb by The Killers

Another album that bookends my college experience is Battle Born by The Killers. A month after moving into my first dorm and starting my first semester of college, this album’s cover art plastered the same local record store. I remember marking my calendar for the release so that I could walk into town after class that day to buy the album. I picked up the Killer’s record as well as a new album by Ben Folds. “Miss Atomic Bomb” is a grandiose song - with lyrics built around youthfulness. It’s a song about first loves and what it feels like to leave. Leaving my high school girlfriend behind when I went to school was a painful goodbye. The summer before I left, we spent as much time together as possible. The song uses images of heat and bright lights - matching the feelings of passion and intensity. To me, this song will always be a reminder of summer and the transition to into the slower months, where you have time to reflect on the warmth of another. I think up until this point in time, I didn’t understand what relationships meant really - the weight of them. It’s easy to be with someone - to show up and just be there. But when physically being there is no longer accessible, it changes how you value time and connection. It also gave me a new appreciation for the relationship - and for the importance of giving in a relationship. While there would eventually be more lessons to learn on what “togetherness” means, I am grateful for the pleasant beginnings.

December 22, 2019.

Line Lie by Violents & Monica Martin

Awake and Pretty Much Sober was an album that was in and out of my ears a lot in 2017. The use of strings against electronic drums gives the album versatility - the music fits the vibe of an early spring morning or that of an evening summer sunset. It was another one of those albums I loved to cool down with or listen to on easy-run days. The Fall of 2017 included the Tough Mudder and the NYC Marathon, so there was a lot of time to listen to songs like “Line Lie.” In September of 2017 - Mike, Zach, and I took to the Tough Mudder course out near Pittsburgh, PA. To avoid Harrisburg traffic, we hid from rush hour in an Olive Garden. Our drive to the hotel out west took us a considerable amount of time that night. The course was extremely muddy - which may sound obvious, but we once ran a nearly dry course.

At one point, Mike and Zach were so far ahead of me. We were in the middle of this winding wooded section that was rigid and dense. With every step, your foot would sink two or three inches. I didn’t want to risk an injury before the marathon, so I resorted to tip-toeing through the muck. Our last obstacle, Kong, was made-up of floating rings over a 20-foot wide gap. The obstacle itself stood elevated, so there was a good drop if you should miss a ring. Mike zipped across the platform, but Hanson and I weren’t so lucky. We ended that race at a pub in the nearby college town. Obstacle races are a great way to inspire new training ideas, but the journeys to and from these races are always my favorite part. Just choose your teammates wisely…

December 23, 2019.

Set Fire to the Rain by Adele

Whenever I hear this song, I think of nighttime storms back home. The summer that this song was released, we were in the middle of a water gun war. There were night ambushes, drive-bys, and carefully crafted home invasions. Jordan and I had invested in the latest water gun technology - only to find out that the guns really didn’t spray anything. In fact, they were just spring-loaded water ball launchers. It was our first summer where most friends could drive, so our adventures grew in terms of scale. Still, I remember spending most of our free time outside - training for soccer or swimming. We spent most of our time in groups, but at the end of the night, Jordan’s house was always the last stop on the drop-off route. Our car radio would likely be blasting “Tonight Tonight” by Hot Chelle Rae or “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele. The laughs and the ambitions shared in those car rides are the purest form of fun that I can remember.

December 24, 2019.

The Sounds of the New Freedom Rail Trail

Instant access to the rail trail is one of New Freedom’s most redeeming qualities. There are many great things about our sleepy town, but this trail system offers you an immediate escape from the world at large. I spent many nights walking or biking the trails after school in middle school. Now, the system is a welcomed running route. I’ve spent early mornings and late nights carving my way through the stillness of the woods and across sleepy towns. If you took the trail south, you would cross into Maryland. On the south side of the Mason-Dixon line, the streams run deeper and faster - which creates this tunnel where you hear only the breeze and the stirring of the water.

December 25, 2019.

Tug of War by Andy Mineo

I used to check album charts on iTunes every week. One week in 2013, Andy Mineo's album "Heroes for Sale" sat at the top. I had never heard of him, but his genre, gospel rap stood out to me. At the time, I had just read Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller and I was searching for what faith meant to me outside of the house I grew up in. In one album, Andy tackles familial relationships, love, lust, jealousy, and grief - all through the lens of Christianity. I remember pulling into the Sharpless Street parking garage on Sundays, listening to songs like "Tug of War." Faith is not always the easiest thing to hold on to. In college, you move through many different groups of people. You should start to see that the world looks a lot different beyond your four walls. Andy's music always helps me calm my mind and regain some perspective that I have missed.

December 26, 2019.

Rory by Foxing

I think I found Foxing on Youtube or Daytrotter. At first, I was impressed by the visuals and the horns. I wouldn’t say it was love at first listen. Foxing’s music is intense. Not “intense” because they occasionally scream, but rather fierce because every lyric feels as though it is being delivered for the first time right as you sat down to listen. Some music aims to entertain. Some music seeks to inspire. Foxing’s music aims to… explore. Vito and I caught them once at the Crocodile in Seattle. The night before the show, they were traveling through some mountainsides when a truck slid and hit their van head-on. Still, they performed their set with incredible poise. The last song, “Rory,” is full of energy and tense noise. All of a sudden, out of the crunch of distortion and pounding of drums comes this triumphant trumpet.

December 27, 2019.

Disappear Here by Bad Suns

Bad Suns has been a go-to band for workouts since “Cardiac Arrest” was a free single of the week on iTunes many moons ago. During the spring and summer of 2017, I would listen to the album Disappear Here during my runs at the Elizabethtown College track. The track is a beautiful blue color, which provides for this incredible purple palate while the sun is rising. When we lived in Mount Joy, most of the runs were relatively flat. I think that 2017 Drew had assumed that the hills from the Seattle Marathon permanently strengthened one’s legs. So, when I stood at the starting line of the NYC Marathon in the Fall of 2017 - I was foolishly unprepared. Only at that moment, I was still beautifully oblivious to just how painful the marathon would be. I wrote all about this experience here. I’m thankful for the butt-kicking of that race. It was the most challenging thing I have ever done, but I taught me to value training runs and to allow yourself extra time to prep the day before a race. I can’t help but crave ice cream when listening to the Bad Suns; ice cream was a post-long run treat in Mount Joy.

December 28, 2019.

Young Enough by Charly Bliss

Charly Bliss has been an absolute joy to experience and watch as they grow over the past few years. With the album Young Enough and the title track of the same name, the band has grown from easy-going pop-punk to retrospective ballads. I love “Young Enough” because it captures the feeling of youth so well. The grandeur of those intense feelings - how the world seems to be speeding up towards something that never quite reaches its explosive end. When you feel something so intensely, the absence or breaking of those feelings is reality-shattering. The beautiful resolution is that new feelings arise, and other things occupy your time and emotional space. Your world gets a little bigger in a sense. We could all use some extra space.

This past spring, Mario and Kate were married! Together they put some impressive playlists to be used for different parts of the day. I was fortunate enough (or not, jury is still out on this one) to MC the event and monitor the tunes and vibes. One thing we did not anticipate that evening was the lack of Wi-Fi inside the barn, which would create a problem for my occasional DJ-ing duty. Once the guests were adequately… hydrated, this one lady would request a different Dan + Shay song every 15 minutes. Sometimes, we wouldn’t have even played the first request before she would add another. Luckily, we had enough music saved so that even without Wi-Fi, the good vibrations continued all through the evening.

December 29, 2019.

Come in this Light by From Indian Lakes

From Indian Lakes was the opening band for Anberlin and the Maine during a fall tour in 2013. FIL used this wooden pallet as part of their merch stand - and I remember loving the DIY style they had, but not really enjoying their sound. A few months after seeing them, I decided to listen to their album The Man with Wooden Legs. The more I listened, the more I loved the lyrics and crafts of the songs. When Absent Sounds came out - I was all about the band. With Yosemite roots and a heavily nature-themed album, the sound was exactly what I was looking for then. Joey’s experimental approach to guitar effects and drum patterns means there is always something to rediscover in a session.

The night after Vito, Jordan, and I saw FIL for the first time together in Philadelphia, I wrote a long journal entry about the experience. I have since lost that note, but I remember the feeling of pure gratitude and honest connection. We stood so close to the stage that night. FIL opened with two drums that eventually led to “Come in this Light.” My favorite part of the evening was watching Vito and Jordan enjoy this band that I had come to love. When we share the pieces of us that we hold most dear - there is this sense of completeness.

December 30, 2019.

Get Out by Frightened Rabbit

I’ve saved my top two songs to round out this list. While all of these songs are dear to my heart - no band or songwriter means more to me than Frightened Rabbit and Scott Hutchison. “Get Out” was one of the opening songs that the band played when Dom, Vito, and I saw them live in 2016. The concert was just days before we would graduate, and at the time, the band was touring the album Painting of a Panic Attack. Throughout the whole show, this couple to our right would make-out with such ferocity that made you wonder if they relied on one another to breathe. Then, one would dramatically pull away and storm off, only to return.

The timing and tone of this concert couldn’t have been better. Our college experiences were winding down, and in the last year, we spent a lot of time with the music of FR. It was a night to relive those moments. At some point, someone in the crowd kept insisting on an old song. Eventually, Scott acknowledges this person and politely told them that they wouldn’t be hearing the song that night. He explained that bands go spend months rehearsing the set they put together - and that they chose these songs for a reason. He jokingly referenced how he once saw Radiohead during the Kid A era and was disheartened when they played the whole album, but none of his favorite songs. The next decade will be missing the prospect of new music and craftmanship of this band. Still, there is a catalog of incredible stories to celebrate in the years to come.

December 31, 2019.

California by Yellowcard

When I wrote about “All Your Favorite Bands,” I was thinking of Yellowcard. When I was in 8th grade, Yellowcard took an indefinite hiatus. Not too long after the split, singer Ryan Key released a side project with Sean O’Donnell under the name Big If. In 2010, the band announced that they would be releasing new music. It was right around my birthday, and the only thing I asked for was the vinyl release of the record, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes. Whenever I needed some sort of soundtrack, Yellowcard seemed to be releasing an album. I’ve been so fortunate to share concerts with my dad, Vito, Dom, Jordan, and Mario. One time the band even wished Vito a happy birthday.

When I moved to Seattle, the band announced that they would be splitting up after one final record and tour. Vito and I attended their final Seattle show at the Showbox. In the moment, it was just pure pop-punk concert energy. The next morning, it felt like I had said goodbye to a dear friend. Through break-ups, moves, and many runs, Yellowcard was the soundtrack to my life. After one concert, “California” came on shuffle, and the whole car sang along. Of all the songs, I think this is the most beautiful one that the band has put together. You can read the stories from other YC fans here.

Tell me all this was another life
And what it's like in California, tonight
Where the sun sets in a perfect sky
I wanna be in California tonight

When everything that I can see
Goes dark I feel you here with me
And I, I'm holding on to you
When shadows try to swallow me
You're the only light I'll ever need
And I, I'm holding on to you.