Hometown: I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. I moved to Boston around 1991.

Family background: I am the youngest of six children (two sisters and three brothers). My family is what you might call working class without the working or the class. Actually, my family is my pride and joy. My dad plays the organ, and my mom used to do an Al Jolson routine performing at hotel lounges in Buffalo. My parents love to gamble-my mom, bingo-my dad, horses. My oldest brother Tom taught me how to play guitar, my brother John taught me to sing, and my brother Scott taught me how to have, as he would put it, "balls." My sisters Linda and Lori are both very hip and cool and know more about what's happening in music than I do. I also have a whole mess of nieces and nephews. They're all brats.

Birthday/sign: My birthday is March 31. I'm an Aries.

Musical influences: Sam Cooke, The Replacements, Fats Domino, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, The Ink Spots, The Mills Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Miller, Santo and Johnny.

Favorite record(s)/why: Presently, Sam Cooke-The Man and His Music. He came up the ranks singing in gospel quartets in the '50s then crossed over to pop. At the time, that was considered taboo to the gospel world, but what they didn't know was that he would bring to pop music a sense of spirit, true love, and romance. He was also a great songwriter. He wrote every song on this record, and they're all songs that will make you go, "I know this song!" and you'll probably think to yourself, "I've always loved this song-I didn't know Sam Cooke wrote this!" This is the first soul music. It has a great feel to it.

Career aspirations: Not to look back in 10 years on the music we're making now and go, "Oh, my god, what was I thinking!" Also...to bring good feeling to people and to write songs that matter.

Good habits: I make my bed every day, and I make an effort to say hello to old people. In our young, beautiful society, they're too often forgotten and left behind. We should listen to what they say 'cause they've been around.

Bad habits: I stay up too late (it's three-thirty A.M. as I'm writing this). The rest are all too personal to tell someone via computer...but believe me...

Hobbies: Watching the Buffalo Bills lose Super Bowls or any other assorted big game. Also, licking the top of my cat's head 'cause it's the one place she can't reach.

Recent job(s): Waiter at the Other Side Cafe in Boston (sounds like baker at the Cross-Town Cafe).

Worst job: I've only been fired from one job my entire life and that was working at a gas station. Imagine my self-esteem at the time.

Favorite hangouts/why: Old Pals piano bar in Chelsea, Mass. Because when my friends and I go there, we're the only ones in there who are under 70 years of age, and yet they always make us feel welcome. The piano is situated in the middle of the bar, and the pianist is amazing. They don't know any songs after 1965. They pass the mic around the bar, and there are hanging Christmas lights everywhere. Every time I go there, I end up singing. Every time I leave there, I believe that life truly gets better the older you are. Truly timeless (and be prepared to party hard).

What's so special about the band? When I first met Ryan, he was 18, yet he already had a complete appreciation for and knowledge of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Dan can play (on piano) any song from the 1920s to the 1950s by ear and almost effortlessly. When I grew up, while my friends were listening to Led Zeppelin and REO Speedwagon, I was singing in a barbershop quartet. I think we all want to make music that will be around a while. I'm not saying we've done it-but, hopefully, someday.

What does being in the Push Stars mean to you? An excuse to act immature and make strange sounds in rest-stop bathrooms.

Three things you'd take with you to a deserted island: (1) My lover; (2) a Sam Cooke record; (3) a coffee pot (will there be an outlet anywhere?).

Three words you'd use to describe yourself: (1) Still (2) in (3) debt.

Three words your close friends would use to describe you: (1) Out (2) to (3) lunch.

Something about yourself not many people know: For most of the past three years, I have been volunteering at a nursing home in Boston doing activities with the elderly. Would that be considered "rock and roll"?

If you weren't in a rock band, what else could you see yourself doing job-wise and enjoying it? Manufacturing Styrofoam insulation.

Nickname(s)/who calls you this? I've only had one nickname throughout my lifetime, and it was during little league baseball. My coach called me "Trap," presumably because I played the "catcher" position. The strange thing was, every time he'd call me that, he'd slap me on my rear-end. He'd say, "Now go out there and get 'em, Trap."