On the weekend of February 24th, I was fortunate enough to join my friend Jonathon Newby (formerly of Brazil) on the road as part of JC Autobody. Newby put a great band together featuring Eric Johnson (also from Brazil) and Russ Cogdell (from Zao).

Here is a taste:

This was a particularly awesome weekend for me. It was partly trip down memory lane, partly a new adventure, and partly an earache. A quick chance to play music with people I had never collaborated with, but who were pretty instrumental in my musical makeup.

If you can, hop in the DeLorean and let’s get up to 88. The story goes like this:

In the year 1997 or 1998, I went to a music festival in Muncie, Indiana. At this music festival were many many bands. Among these insane bands was one called Zao, an intense metal band that looked a lot like this:

Behind this festival (the same festival where I first bore witness to the amazing guitar prowess of Jared Southwick) was a pale guy with tattoos named Jonathon Newby. Throughout my years at Ball State University, Newby and I would cross paths and see each other at shows, many of them featuring awesome bands he brought to town. Quite a few times brought Zao through as they toured.

I had a few chances between 2000 and 2002 to play with Zao while in Mara’Akate, and had met Russ in passing, and shared gear on occasion. Zao was an incredible band, and full of good guys. Basically we would show up, say hi, all freak out and get back on the road.

A decade later, and Russ is still crushing it in Zao. Evidence:

In short, it was really great to play with these guys, two guys that I never thought I’d have an opportunity to make music with, let along geek out about cameras, movies, and 90s Nickelodeon shows with.

Thanks guys, let’s do it again soon. Now I’m heading back to the future.