WRK.

What a nervous wreck I was… meeting William Ryan Key. After 15 years.

It took me a day to recover from the emotions of last night. All four artists—Oh Weatherly, WRK, This Wild Life, and Mayday Parade—were all phenomenal. Each made me teary eyed, for different reasons. That being said…

Ryan presents this humility and grace onstage when performing, and it’s just awesome. Not that it wasn’t there when performing as Yellowcard—but it is so much more personal now and you can really see it. Second time seeing him solo without the rest of his prior band, and he was even better here.

He talked about having to “start all over.” Driving a van around the country, paying for his own gas. Reminded me of small business ownership. Hustling and doing everything you can to succeed. And with my gym, I can totally relate to that. That was good to hear.

Ryan continuing to make music after YC split is such a hope in the world for me. I was driving a couple weeks ago listening to Back Home on repeat (I’ve been relating to that song so much recently, the lack of genuineness on the west coast just hurts me sometimes), just, crying, and realizing, after many years…this. This is my favorite band. Like I was struck with this jolt of lightning when the thunder had always been there. I was always clueless of my “favorite” band, it has come and gone as a few different artists, but a couple weeks ago is when I really came to that conclusion. Yellowcard is it. Nothing compared to seeing Yellowcard. Nothing. Nothing ever will.

But rising out of the ashes is William Ryan Key’s outstanding acoustic performance, and it is an emotionally damn close second.

I encourage everyone to support him on his new venture of life. It will be worth it. Promise.