Gratitude

I had to go out and sing my songs

Anaheim, California. Photo by Rob Wallace.

I’m not going to provide an in-depth recap of this past month’s tour, as I am now focusing on writing a full-length memoir that spans my entire career, and this last 30-day tour is a backdrop for it. If you’d like to support my writing, you can become a paid subscriber here on Substack, where I will continue to share new writings and updates on a semi-regular basis.

However, I want to express my Gratitude:

Thank You to EVERYONE who supported The Rats in 2025. We appreciate all of you: the clubs, bars, and venues; the promoters and bookers; the bands we played with; and especially the audiences we had the privilege of performing for. A Special Thanks to The Aquabats for making it all possible by reaching out to me about relaunching The Rats and inviting us to tour with them.

When I came off the road back in January, I had no plans to play live music again anytime soon. I knew I would eventually, but I couldn’t imagine when or how. After three years of nonstop touring, the last thing I wanted to do was hit the interstates again or invest the time, energy, and money it would take to get a band roadworthy. However, when I got the call for the Bats, Kats, and Rats Tour, I realized that if I was ever going to do it, this was the opportunity I needed—to revisit songs that mattered to me, to reimagine the band in a way that complemented the lyrical content, and to support my vision of what I wanted to do musically. At that point, I really did want to stay home, but I couldn’t say no. I had to go out and sing my songs—I needed to.

We had so many beautiful nights opening for The Aquabats. Their audience embraced us from the first note, opened their hearts and minds to our music, and made us feel welcomed and appreciated. Each night, we felt we had done good work and had a purpose. The band supported me and gave their all to the songs, and it was clear—people felt it: from the heart to the heart—this is why I play live music.

We’re looking forward to what comes next and will announce any shows and touring plans for 2026 as they come in. Stay tuned, and Thank You for Your Continued Support!

Much Love,