Jax Merritt

Third game of my junior year. Planted, turned, heard it pop. I knew before I hit the ground.

The rehab took a year. The band started in the middle of it, mostly as a way to be loud about how angry I was.

Every fall. But I get the same feeling walking on stage. The lights, the noise, the moment right before it starts.

Like an athlete protects a joint. Warm-up, cool-down, sleep, water, and no yelling at bars after the show. That last one is the hardest.

Strange, in a good way. I used to be the guy in the locker room listening to whatever the arena played. Now we are the arena playlist.