clinkytheclown

Oh, man. I have waited for this. Your music has been woven into my entire life. I don’t even know where to start.

I remember when I was about 4 or so, my father burned my brother and I a CD with all of our favorite hits on it. Smash Mouth was my favorite band at the time, but my little brother loved you guys. There was a smattering of rock and other stuff on the CD, but the only song I distinctly remember being on there was The Middle, and I loved it. That was the first time I heard you guys. I had a babysitter around that time too, I thing her name was Lizzy or something, blond curly hair. Anyway, she was from Arizona and said that her brother was Jim’s best friend when they were growing up, (don’t remember his name, sorry!). I told her to call you guys so I could meet you.

Throughout the rest of middle school, my best friend would burn be CDs, and your hits would make it onto each of them, so by the time high school rolled around, I had a good collected of your songs.

Chase This Light is my favorite album of all time. I remember the first time I heard Let It Happen, I could have sworn you guys were in my head. Typical dorky teenager problems that I felt no one understood, except somehow you were able to capture what I was feeling in a song. The rest of the album was killer too, and I always find myself going back to it, there’s a song for whatever mood I’m in.

But the real reason I love your band, is Hear You Me. This song holds a special place in my heart, really the only song I have in my heart. In high school my uncle tragically passed. I remember the day I heard about it, and when I got home that night, I just sat in my car with Hear You Me on repeat. “With a heart so big, god wouldn’t let him live” found its way to be the motto of my grief, a nice way to look at his passing. A few months later, my grandfather and best friend’s father both passed, and the first song, the only song I could bear to listen to was Hear You Me. I can’t listen to it today without tearing up and remembering them and their hearts too big, but it is and always will be my favorite song of all time.

So I don’t have a question for you guys, but wanted to say how much you’ve affected my life. You’re albums are instant buys for me. Seeing you live is on my bucket list (I’m from Denver but won’t be there for your show, tour the Midwest!). Your songs are a part of my everyday life. They have inspired a boy to become an optimist, related to a lonely teenager and consoled a grieving man, all with a few songs. You have saved a life, changed a life, and inspired me.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to the top, for your music.

I'm in Nebraska for school, but anywhere in Omaha, Lincoln NE, Kansas City or Western Iowa and I'd be there.

You guys are the best.