I realize I’m giving away my age, but before Mark Rashotte and I embarked on a 10 year professional touring career with our band, we also played for 7 years together…grade 7 through 13!  Of course, we were a cover band playing school dances and hockey arenas in the summer.  I remember fondly hearing Alice Cooper’s “Under My Wheels” on my local AM radio station back in 1971 and insisting that our band learn  how to play it.  Play it we did, at the good ole’ Memorial Arena!  We were on the same bill as Edward Bear.  Fast forward a couple of years and hearing “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd for the first time.   Even back in its earliest days, some how we all knew this would be a standard.  We played this song, as did every garage band with the rock and roll dream of hitting the big time.  How cool is it that both of these acts, still rocking, will be in my hometown for Empire Rockfest 2010.  I’ll be singing along and expect many a rocker, older and younger, will too.