Rooney Retrospective

Dear Rooney,

I first learned of you (heard you, saw you) when I watched The Princess Diaries in 2001. Other than that, your music was pretty hard to come by in those days. Two years later, when your first album was released in late May 2003, I drove to three different stores in two different cities (some 30 minutes or more in distance) in search of the album. It was before I had access to iTunes, so it had to be done. (It was good practice as I did it again in 2005 for Jason Mraz's Mr. A-Z album. Good music can be hard to come by sometimes.) I remember the day I first got the album so clearly not because I drove so much to get it but because it was my last day of high school. The seniors had graduated on the previous Friday, but we had to attend the following Monday and Tuesday in order to make up for snow days. I could barely contain myself all day. The thought of finally getting hands on two things that I had wanted for so long was nearly unbearable.

The year turned out to be a fantastic one for me, Rooney-wise. When I went off to college in the fall, I found out about you playing Juanita's in Little Rock in September. My roommate, a friend, and I travelled to LR to see you guys play. The opening acts were The Sounds and Palo Alto. It was my first concert. I had a huge test the next day and I studied all the way to LR. Even though I barely passed the test, it was worth it. I loved seeing you perform live and I really didn't care for the class.

In November of 2003, I got the chance to see you perform (again with The Sounds) in Fayetteville at Dave's on Dickson. I went this time with my roommate and my mom. We also met a friend that we had met online. He brought a couple of friends, too. This time, armed with a disposable camera, I took pictures of the show (which I still have). The show was awesome. Afterwards, I got one of the guitar picks that had been thrown out into the audience (thanks, Mom!) and got to meet you guys. You signed my album, which I still have tucked away somewhere. I also spoke with some members from The Sounds, who were hilarious in their descriptions of Arkansas weather (it rained heavily both nights I saw you play in Arkansas that year).

In April 2004, I got to see you open for Michelle Branch at the University of Arkansas. My sister and my friend came along this time. Our seats weren't close (at the November 2003 show, I touched the stage most of the night), but we had so much fun dancing in the aisles at the back of the stadium. My sister was exhausted on the way home and fell asleep in the back of my tiny extended cab truck. Rooneywas the anthem of my freshman year of college.

I haven't seen you live since 2004. I've kept up with you, though. I purchased Calling the World in 2007, once I graduated college and had moved in with my aunt and uncle in Texas. The album kept me company whenever I drove back and forth from Texas to Oklahoma, which was fairly frequently. And today, I purchased Eureka. Love what I'm hearing in the new songs, kids. Great stuff.

You guys are playing somewhat near to my location this summer. I would love to see you again, but I just don't know if it will be possible. Responsibilities such as work and grad school are hard to ignore. I would really love to be at the August 25th show, as you'll be opening for Hanson. The amount of wonderful music plus the fantastic venue is almost too much to pass up. We'll see.

In any case, I would like to thank you for defining and enhancing specific portions of my life with your catchy, dance-inducing sounds. You're freakin' awesome and you make life fun.

Sincerely yours,
tk