I started writing music the winter after my last semester of USM. I was walking across town every night to work as a cook and Maine's unforgiving weather inspired me to start putting pen to paper. The majority of "Trial & Error" was written that winter. The songs were initially only meant to be heard by me, but I started teaching to my friends and family and without me knowing it I had formed The Bonfire.
As we made the transition from practicing in living rooms and playing coffee shops to a new practice space and playing bigger louder venues our sound evolved to incorporate the punk music I grew up with. I was pleased to find that three chord folk songs are no different than three chord punk songs. I was also pleased to find that I had found a genre that was universal. Something young people could enjoy as much as my Grandfather.
There have been several different members over the last couple years and every person has brought something different to the band. Aly Spaltro(Lady Lamb the Beekeeper), Jakob Battick and D. Gross were kind enough to come into the studio to record guest parts as honorary members of The Bonfire. I've been blessed to be surrounded by some of the most amazing musicians I have ever heard and everybody that I recorded with has each made an indelible mark on this album.
I hope you enjoy "Trial & Error" as much as I enjoyed writing it.