I've been a Southside fan for nearly 25 years, and, as the picture suggests (that is my actual, registered license plate, by the way), I take my Jukes music seriously.

Music is a major part of my life. I write lyrics. I go to a lot of shows. I have over 2000 titles in my CD collection. Most people think that I'm nuts. But, as I often joke, music is cheaper than therapy. You see, music feeds your soul and brings you places that you couldn't get to without it. To borrow a cheap cliché, music is the soundtrack of your life.

Southside's music hits me in a bunch of different ways. The music, even in its softest moments, always has a certain joy deep within it. You know that there is something there that will pull you through. The lyric, even at its happiest, still has some sorrow buried inside. Together, these qualities gives the tunes a certain authenticity. Southside's music is real. It's not manufactured and sterile, like a lot of the stuff produced these days.

As I mentioned, I write lyrics, as well. I try to fold these types of nuances into my material. Who knows? Maybe I'll get a chance to share my stuff with Southside sometime. I know he's an avid reader. Perhaps, he'll do me the honor. You never know, he may find a tune or two that suits him, and, one day, all of you in Jukesville can have a listen, too.

See you at the next show,
Westside Jimmy
Connecticut