Memories and Fish, REEL BIG that is.

As I got scheduled today for The Warped Tour on Wednesday and getting excited about possibly maybe hearing one of my favorite bands, Reel Big Fish, it sent me down memory lane.

See my friends I wasn't always a Reel Big Fish fan. Back in I believe 1996, someone can correct me if I'm wrong but really is anyone who know me reading this? I digress, as I was saying I was a huge No Doubt fan, and I still am to this day, and I professed my love of No Doubt to anyone and everyone who I came across especially at school. Well I believe it was sophmore year there was a new girl in Orchestra class by the name of Erica Waddell. She was so different than most any person I've known, she was kind to everyone and truely the most awesomest person in the world.

Well that year for my 16th birthday I believe I invited Erica. As I was opening up my gifts which I can't really remember what anyone else got me that year it's all sort of a blur now, except for that fact I remember it took place at Heroes in Lee's Summit which no longer exist, Erica gave me what at the time I thought was a bizarre gift to get me. She got me Reel Big Fish's CD Turn Off the Radio. I had never heard of Reel Big Fish did not know what kind of music they played or anything. Erica told me they were a ska band and were way better than No Doubt, she had issues with No Doubt don't ask me what they are cause I don't know but she never really got why I loved them so much. She also told me that she thought I would really enjoy them. So I thought this is Erica Waddell the coolest person I've ever met telling me basically, and I'll put it in my own words, kick my ass so bad I'll never look back.

So I gave the CD a listen and it was a begining of a new love. My love of not just Reel Big Fish but of ska music in general. After I listened to the CD I told Erica that was the coolest cd ever and I greatly appreciated her giving me such a gift that totally was a suprise and not predictable and for introducing me to something new and unique. I don't know if I used those exact words but it went something along those like. On a sidenote she tried that again on my 17th birthday by giving me a CD of an artist I never heard of and that time it didn't go over so well.

Moving on I've never forgot about that gift and have never lost that exact CD unlike what I have with some of my No Doubt cds I've bought. This was the CD that made Reel Big Fish a house hold name, well at least for 1997 later know to some as the summer of ska. What I also thought was so cool was I got to hear there music before they really blew up. Then I remember seeing the video for Sell Out on M2 and thinking this band is awesome. Through RBF I got interested in the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which then lead me to the Toasters and the lists goes on and on.

But back to Erica for a bit. That last time I had heard from her was sometime after I had gotten excepted to Champan University in the Spring of 2001 I believe. Today I went around the net searching for her and I read about that time she went missing or something like that. Then I went searching more and saw a picture of her with Bill Richardson and some blogs from 2007 about her support for him for president in 2008 and that she was living in Torance. Well I hope that was her. It looked like the Erica I remembered and always thought very highly of. If Erica Waddell is out there and is reading this I'd like to give you a shout and say thank you for the music, because music is the greatest gift anyone can give, and for being one of the coolest and kindest people I've ever met. I hope all is well with you and that you continue to be the unique, strong person who always speaks up for what you believe in. Plus makes some of the coolest clothes ever. Let's hear it for the CAUTION Jacket. I hope eventually I hear from you again my friend. Even though I haven't heard, seen or talked to you in a long time I still do consider you a friend, and friend I will never forget.