Patrick Taylor

I met Patrick in either 2004 or 2005. I was doing shows pretty regular and this dude kept showing up with a camera and taking pictures. I was stoked because he would send some to Saint's myspace every now and then. I met Patrick through Dusty Neal, and it was pretty much one those moments where you realize "welp I'm just friends with this dude" As I've stated before I can be kind of a jerk so it was kind of weird that I was stoked on meeting someone new and not being my normal self.

Unfortunately when Patrick and I started becoming really good friends he moved to NYC to work on his masters degree at parsons. This is the trait I admire most about Patrick. He's literally afraid of nothing. Im a huge pansy and would never be able to pack up my life and start again in a city that I knew no one. But for some reason Patrick is able to do this without a problem. It's super amazing and inspiring. There have been numerous times in my life when I have been bummed out and just thought about how strong my friends are and the moves they are making in life and its given me the strength to accomplish a lot of my goals. 

                                

Although Patrick moved away our friendship has never changed. We talk several times almost every week and it always leaves me feeling stoked about my life. The distance perplexes me sometimes because I have had friends that I thought that I was close to move smaller distances and we drift apart. Patrick is way awesome in being an active friend and just loves everything in life. He knows about a lot of sweet and cool shit. And even being a total new jack with a lot of stuff my self he's never talked down or made me feel like an idiot if I ask him about things. He just gets stoked that you are into sweet shit. This is super rare to come by when people are as educated and involved in the things that Patrick gets to live daily. Throught the time he's lived in NYC he still comes back to visit and I get way stoked everytime. Its like an unannounced holiday and we just hangout like were in junior high and rage for the few days he's here like he never left. Its the best and worst feeling at the same time but I look forward to everytime it happens and the times it will happen. Honestly, it makes me feel like I'm 19 again and don't give a shit about anything and it's way awesome to be able to care about nothing but your friends for a few days and makes you realize how important that aspect of life is. Patrick I hope you still come and visit me when we're 50 and just not give a shit for a few days.

Lastly Patrick is one of the most hardest working dudes I know. I know I've said that about the last two blogs that I wrote, but maybe you can understand why I felt I should do this. All of my friends are amazing in all the aspects of their lives. Patrick is making moves right now that blow my mind. He is constantly learning and seeking to work with people that are on level that I can barely comprehend. Somehow this doesn't get to his head and he is still the most chill and down to earth dude I've ever met. Patrick you're my dude my guy, thanks for always being a sweet dude that doesn't give a shit about anything that doesn't matter. Thanks for always pushing me through your actions and encouraging me with your words even though I can be the biggest new jack idiot about the stuff you know most about. 

MY FRIENDS OVER YOU!

TONY

Nick Clate, Nate, Clack, Nate Click

Before I start to tell you about how awesome Nate is and how you should be terribly jealous that he's not your best friend, I have to pre-date this blog about five years. I hated Nate for the longest time. I mean "I fucking hated him"

Back in the Anchor Basement days if he came to shows I'd watch him and his friends and basically be a total asshole and throw them out for any they did, and on numerous occasions I'd call Nate and the end of the show and just yell at him on the phone just to make him feel bad. It was at the pinnacle of my asshole period and I still feel like shit about it till this day. One instance that we still joke about is when I told Nate that he was "Everything wrong with hardcore and the reason why places get shut down. Don't come to Fort Wayne, Don't act like we're cool".

But aside from me being a total jerk Nate Still became my best friend.

Now I've never had a brother and I am fortunate enough to have several friends with which I was able to form that type of bond with. No-homo but for some reason Nate and I's friendship is on another level. Our girlfriends have made comments that we aren't friends but rather we are dating. Some people may say it's gay or whatnot but to me I've never been more thankful.

Nate has my back no matter what. I mean I have done shit or said shit that has pissed off mutual friends or complete strangers and no matter who they are to Nate he'll stick up for me. That type of loyalty doesn't come into anyones life very often so for that I'll always be grateful. Nate and I both know things about each other that we'd never tell another soul and he has heard my darkest secrets and shit that I am totally ashamed of and never judges me or treats me any different.

Nate's just all around the most talented dude I've ever met. Now I have a lot of friends who are super talented in one area or are super smart, but Nate is good at so many things it blows my mind. Somehow he has time to be an awesome, artist, tattooist, musician, and athlete. I don't know how his brain handles the amount of shit he knows how to do. At 18 he knew he wanted to be a tattooist and set his sights on that. At 18 I didn't know shit from piss and was eating my own farts. I've always been jealous of his determination and wish it was a trait I had more of in my life.

Aside from being super talented Nate is also one of the most generous friends I have. I have seen him pay everyone's way into places or numerous times, buy someones meal, and lend money to friends without thinking twice. I hear about these instances second hand most times and I get so stoked that he values his friends that it's no big deal to drop a good deal of money to help someone out. Nate is also super generous with time. Whenever someone is down or going through something Nate is always down to hang. Even though he has a strict 10'oclock bed time, he'll hangout all night to try and cheer some up. I can't even count the number of people/bands that have stayed,lived with, or just plain mooched off Nate over the years. And even with a bunch of negative experiences he doesn't show any sign of changing this behavior. Lastly Nate is generous with his art. I can't count the amount of free or cheap tattoos that he has done on me. It would be impossible to count those on other people.

Nate thanks for always being my best dude, regardless of how shitty, flakey or moody I can be. You'll always be a person I look up to and even though everyone gives you shit for being you, you're one of the most solid and awesome dudes. I know.

MY FRIENDS OVER YOU

TONY

Todd Tables

If you know me even remotely personally I talk a lot about how people are my best friends. It may seem to some that I have about a million people who are my "best friend" "best dude" "best ass dude" "best dude ever"..etc you get the idea. However, most of the time when I say these statements its about 10 people. I know that 10 people may sound like a lot of people to be your best friend but what you may not understand is that these are the ten people that I spend all of my time and literally shut everyone else in the world out. I have been labeled an "ASSHOLE" for quite some time and I admit fully to being obnoxious and even crossing the line with some of my jokes. 

I guess the point I am trying to make is that I value this handful of people more than most do their friends and the rest of the world just doesn't offer me what they do so I really don't feel its worth my time to invest into anyone else when I could further invest into these people. 

With that being said ladies and gentle man I give you Ty Brennermen

I have known Ty for some years now and really never hung heavily until the past two years or so. We always ran in the same social circle of friends but with conflicting schedules and my fore mentioned attitude about people we never really did anything to further our friendship. 

For those of who don't know Ty let me tell why he's the best dude ever. Ty is never a negative dude, I mean ever. I have hung out with him for days on end and have never seen him get upset. I mean granted he is like everyone else and gets frustrated or bummed, but never angry. I personally can have a short temper and get out of line really quickly. Ty is always listening to other people and is always slow to speak and chooses his words very carefully. I know that he thinks it makes him look "soo dumb" but really I feel that he is much smarter than I'll ever be for having such control. Its a trait I admire a lot. Even when he asks for advice he allows the other person to fully explain their rationale before responding.

Ty is also the most sincere dude I have ever met. He literally loves everything about life. If anyone needs anything at all if Ty has it; its yours. He also never really "talks shit" on people. He constantly looks for the best in people and if he doesn't agree with someones point of view he simply states that " I don't agree" never anything further unless prompted. To me that is the best. I feel personally that I let my mouth run a lot and I am kind of a shit head but Ty constantly puts life into perspective for me without even trying and for that I am super grateful. He is also the most accepting person I have ever met. He constantly challenges the people around him to look at all sides of an issue before choosing a side. 

Lastly Ty is the best because he is always down to hang and clown. He can take any serious situation and turn it into the funniest thing ever. He has the ability to create the most light hearted atmosphere even when I am the most bummed out I have ever been in my life.  I know most people in the mid-twenties to thirties just want to be serious and live the 9-5 life. Not to say there is anything wrong with that but that is where I feel Ty and I are the most similar. We could  I can't even count the endless nights we've spent just doing the dumbest stuff ever, but at the end of every night I feel like I have the best life in the world. 

Ty thank you always being the best dude ever. I know I'm not one for a bunch of sentimental words but you are someone I look up to constantly and wish I was more like. 

I know this was poorly written and the pictures suck, but if you don't like it you obviously aren't one of the people I intended to write this for.

MY FRIENDS OVER YOU

TONY B