When I was a budding songwriter in the late '80s, I considered the Iron Horse my graduate school. Putting implicit trust in Jordi Herold's opinion of whom to catch, I was fortunate enough to see people like Lucinda Willams, Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega and Mary Chapin Carpenter in that little room playing their very first shows. I got to learn from the pros in the best possible environment, analyzing what worked in their stage patter and why. I believe it's made me a really well-rounded performer to see all those great shows. And I loved the "table in the back" where I met the people for the first time who became my graphic artist, my record label, my colleagues and new friends. I stayed in the Valley ever since my graduation from Hampshire College because of this area's natural beauty and cultural abundance. I considered the Iron Horse, the Advocate and WRSI like a holy trinity of the music here. Another great aspect of living here was getting to know the other musicians who lived here too. There was an awesome Northampton Songwriters Group that met often, until we all started touring more. At times it included myself, Dar Williams, Annie Gallup, Jim Henry, Pete Nelson, Cliff Ebehardt and more. It made me a much better songwriter that I ever could have become on my own. It inspired me to write the best lines I could, and I loved the challenge of wanting to impress my peers, or at least not embarrass myself completely. Whenever I play the Horse now, it's kind of like playing for my family—everybody's seen me grow up here.
