"The first 20 years is just to see if you like it or not," Jerry Lopez, an iconic surfer, joked about the sport and lifestyle of surfing. Joe Kaplow has always admired and glorified that type of Jedi-like dedication. After 20 years, Kaplow is pretty sure he likes making music.

Up until now it was easy for California based songwriter Joe Kaplow to be pushed along. At eight he was getting screamed at by Uncle Jim for playing out of time. A few years later found him passing almost every single after school evening getting stoned and jamming with his band in Bondar's basement. Years later again he was studying music at college and having to sink or swim in the sea of talent crowding Boston streets and finally, for the past 5 years, plugging his amp into the outlet of American music heritage, driving around and playing shows in bars, clubs, and coffee shops while figuring out along the way that CDs are lame and that booking pitches should be concise. It was almost like there wasn't time to stop and think.  

Recently, it seems like all he does is think. When all the momentum, all the plans, all the validation, all the adventure, and all the money just stop; when the pushing stops, one may find themselves asking, "Why am I doing this?" An underdog without an over-dog is just a dog.