Zen - Box 31

Zen - Box 31

She was always by my side and never tried to leave

Standing up for me and like a tree for what she believed

--Pink Turns to Blue, Grant Hart

This box was made for Rowan. Rowan and I met back in the 80's - at King's supermarket in Garwood, New Jersey. We bonded immediately over our mutual obsession with the band Hüsker Dü. From that point on, Rowan and I would work together in a number of bands and on a multitude of musical projects for the next 40 + years.

To me, Rowan is the epitome of what it means to be a collaborative band member. I have brought so many songs to Rowan in and out of a band setting and he always makes them better than they ever could have been without his input and feedback. Because, you see - he has a very discerning ear for music and is driven to do what's best for the song no matter what. He brings an economy of notes when that's what it calls for, clean stacatto picking, searing sustain or perhaps a a wall of power chords for 'the blast part.' Sometimes it's a combination of all these.

As an artist, I usually have a pretty good idea of how I want my songs to come to life. But Rowan's interpretation and ideas often take the music in a completely different direction than I would have ever imagined and the results are delightful. Early on, it got to the point when I would simply write lyrics and the basic chord structure for songs on acoustic guitar, bring them to the band and let Rowan work his magic. It was, and still is, a joy and a pleasure to work with someone who is so dialed in to what makes music magical.

It was only fitting that Rowan's box hearken back to the day we first met and the band that we both love.