I tell people that I first picked up a guitar during the Summer of Love. The actual date may not have been that summer, but that's the nearest (and most relevant) historic marker from that period.

Led Zeppelin, 1969. Boston Garden. I went with my oldest friend, Don Jones.

Memorable? Are you kidding? It was Led Freaking Zeppelin on one of their first US tours! Oh, and second row seats... :-)

Koll and Kritz guitars, processed by a rack system consisting of an Avid Eleven Rack and a Looperlative LP1, controlled by a Liquid-Foot LF+ 12+. The whole thing plugs into a PA; I never carry amplification.

Earliest influences: `60s pop and psychedelia. The first two albums I bought were by The Monkeys and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Shortly thereafter my friend Kevin Hughes turned me on to The Jefferson Airplane. In 1972 a college friend, Terry Bentley, turned me on to Blue Oyster Cult and Wishbone Ash. Then I found John Abercrombie's "Timeless", which is still one of my favorite recordings. Mahavishnu Orchestra, because I wandered into their concert at the Student Union Ballroom and promptly had my mind blown. More recently, The Mermen.

Those are my touchstones. There are many others. If I ever stop growing up, I'll stop adding to this list... ;-)

I play in LCW, a improvisational trio named after its members (me, Stephen Caird and Joe Williams). We put on our own show a few times a year.

i've been in other Portland bands playing original material. The first, Netochka, drew 70 people to its first show on the stength of a demo recording placed upon our employer's music server.

Almost Milwaukie played a number of successful dark psychedelic metal shows.

After that, and before LCW, I played a number of short sets as a solo improvisational guitarist.

Virtually any of the well-known artists from the San Francisco / Laurel Canyon scene of the late `60s and early `70s. I love where they ended up, musically, starting from their roots in folk, blues and Americana.

The Mermen, because they're carrying on the psychedelic improvisational tradition and because Jim Thomas is one of my favorite modern guitarists and loopers.

All of my audiences so far have topped out below 100 people.

Good question! The first one that comes to mind is The Jefferson Airplane's "After Bathing At Baxters". Ask me tomorrow, and you'll likely get a different answer. There are just so many incredible recordings that are capable of offering new surprises and insights upon repeated play...