AGE: 28

HOMETOWN: Augusta

PLAYS: Taylor 114 Grand Auditorium

BEST Concert attended: Ozzfest at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, Atlanta, 2005. "Getting to see Metallica -- that was awesome. ... That's one of my favorite bands in the whole wide world."

MEMORABLE SHOW: Showcase at Riverview Park, North Augusta, 2005. "It was for a good cause. We did it for free to raise money for needy children. That was pretty cool."

WORST SHOW: Talent show at Greenbrier High School, late 1990s.

"It was my first year at Greenbrier High School. I sang the national anthem, and I totally cracked up on 'rockets' red glare.' Started it out too high and just murdered it at that point. Yeah, it was horrible. I finished it, though."

FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Outback Steakhouse

IF HE COULD PERFORM WITH ANYONE: Garth Brooks.

"Up until the Garth Brooks thing, I never really listened to country music. ... He was just always somebody I thought that was real innovative with that style of music that he did."

SONGWRITING PROCESS: "Either (Tony Thomas will) be kicking around a couple chords, or I'll be kicking around a couple chords. And it's super quick."

HANDPICKED CONCERT LINEUP: Jimi Hendrix, Voodoo Child; Stevie Ray Vaughan, Life by the Drop; Led Zeppelin, Black Dog; Metallica, One; Garth Brooks, The Red Strokes; Atreyu, Lead Sails (and a Paper Anchor).