I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with McMurtry’s music in that it’s the kind of music I’d love to write but know I never will. Such is life. And I’m still kicking myself for missing his show when he played locally last year.

His distinct lack of commercialism is probably what does it the most for me. There’s a truth, a purity, to his music. And while I still listen to Megadeth and Skid Row without apology, their influence and inspiration is at best minimal.

My mentor and songwriting coach, Bob Cox of Willard, OH, advised me early on to study songs I like, both for words and music, but I’m too lazy to do that in a detailed manner. I’m willing to listen over and over, but not to take notes. And I’ve been leary of “trying” to write pop or commercial stuff. So, while I certainly respect anyone who can make a living writing songs, I also steer away from “aiming” at a certain market. The result is my songs are all over the place relative to what they’re “about”, though styles and chord progressions are similar. I write songs mostly about things I’m interested in and that I can sing myself.