It was a Nerve gig sometime in 1980, over many, many, 99¢ Heinekens at the Crystal in Virginia Beach, that I met Michael Ray (pronounced "michaelray"). I was a punk-ass 18 year-old kid, and he was this "geezer" at 28. Michael was playing with Woody and the wonderful Mare Carmody in the pioneering local bluegrass band Handpicked, and invited me out to a gig. Spruced up in my best spiked hair and ripped t-shirt, with big dangling earrings in both ears (don't laugh kids, it was radical for the time) I went out to this "country gig" expecting to stay just long enough for a beer over a set-break and to get the hell out before I got my ass kicked.

What I found was a great band, playing songs from every genre that had inspired them. After so many years of listening to idiots classify and reject music on their narrow idea of what was "authentic" or "cool", this was the proverbial breath of fresh air. I knew I'd just found a friend.

He turned me on to so many things I'd missed... from Tom Waits to the OG of alt-country/americana, Gram Parsons and all his compatriots. I'd grown up on good ol' "authentic" country music, but I'd never heard the likes of these cats and I loved it.

I hit him with the Clash, Costello, XTC and more. Eventually, we took these many influences and sat down together with instruments in our laps. Michael on acoustic guitar and me on bass... the Blue in the Face "big bang"!

Unfortunately, it was more of a fizzle. Only a couple of great afternoons, but the idea and the frienship stayed.

Fast forward a while to a chance meeting at an open mic at Norfolk's now lamentably gone Cogan's, we decided to give it another shot. We asked this hilarious kid we'd met that night if he wanted in, and set a date to get together. On the day of our first "rehearsal" Michael called and asked if I minded him bringing along another guitarist... "Sure, man."

That night, the door opens, in walks Michael with the mystery-twanger. My jaw dropped, and all I could say was "dude! you're a friend of my dad's!" Year's before, while my father was in the grips of a dangerous british sports car obsessive disorder, he frequented Stephen's import parts shop like some would the local tavern.

Stephen, Chris, Michael and I played, we gelled, and most of all we had a blast and the friendships grew. After a short while Chris left the band and headed for parts unknown (I want my Tom Waits video back, dude!) Over the following years we played under various names, with various other players, always as a part time side project to our lives and other primary bands, periodically disbanding when life made it too tough to keep it going, and reforming when things let up.

At Michael's wedding in October of 2004 we had an impromptu reformation, this time with Woody finally in this particular mix on the congas... as soon as Michael was back from the honeymoon, I started making the badgering phone calls, and again we were on. This time, with a hitch...

Previously, I'd handled the lead vocal spot as well as bass, but I'd come to the realization that I do both well seperately, but together.... ehhhh... not so much... the hunt was on for a singer... eventually Michael received an out-of-the-blue phone call from Jeff, who both Stephen and Michael had played with in Pepperhead, and loved... "how would feel about coming out and singin' a bit?"

He came. He sang. He conquered.

And here we are. A band full of players that love the music, and each other.

It's the best thing I've ever been involved in, hopefully you'll like it too.

— Levi

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