Miami University | Oxford, OH Hope from pain…it’s is an idea that is generations old.  As I sat and listened to three incredible, relatively unknown musicians talk about why they love making music I couldn’t help but feel they each had invented they idea themselves.  One of the audience members asked “Did you learn to play a guitar because you wanted to or because you had something inside of you that you needed to get out?”  Almost instantly they all responded, “Because I had something that needed to get out.”  As they talked it was clear that they each had something powerful to say.

Last Tuesday was an incredible night for me as I listened to a good friend and his tour mates pour out their souls through music and conversation. They were on a tour called Lyrics and Conversation with the organization To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit that helps people struggling with depression, thoughts of suicide and self-injury.  If you don’t know about what TWLOHA is doing you should follow the link to their website and get acquainted…really amazing stuff!  Lauris Vidal, Damion Suomi and Andy Zipf are touring the country in a truly unconventional way. Each night they play a few songs and then there is a discussion about how music has helped them through the best and hardest times of their lives.  I told my wife after it was over that it was a bit like VH1′s Storytellers, but with guys who are still writing their story.  I consider it an honor to have been in the room for what turned out to be an intimate look into the hearts of three really great guys.

I believe in what TWLOHA is doing and I especially believe in artists chasing their dreams.  If you are looking for some great music that you probably don’t have on your iPod, go iTunes right now and download, Damion Suomi Needs a Little Water by Damion Suomi, Shoot Shoot Your Skeletons by Lauris Vidal and/or  Your Voice is a Weapon by Andy Zipf.  After you listen you can send the thank you note to my home address.

“Let’s find a place where there’s joy and let that joy burn the pain” Damion Suomi