Took lessons at the Milton Mann Accordion Studio in Culver City after door-to-door salesman recognized 9-year-old's hidden talent
Played clarinet so well, grade school music teacher dug up long-lost alto clarinet just for him
Switched to tenor saxophone; played in high school jazz ensembles and rock bands
Discovered electric guitar; started writing songs
Formed progressive rock band; recorded original tunes; sent five or six tapes to record companies; quit part‑time job to await royalties
Played guitar with avant-wacko jazz band Halfway to Cleveland; improvised music encrypted in random newspaper articles
Brought home rented violin in fifth grade; encouraged to practice "in Carnegie Hall" or "anywhere else"; once took a lesson from Mrs. Grantham in Grand Junction, CO
Moved to roach-infested single on Venice boardwalk where many neighbors were rock, jazz, or classical musicians; inspired to buy cheap Yamaha steel‑string guitar; practiced like crazy until guitar was stolen by burglar; musician neighbor bought replacement
Heard recording of Sabicas; took flamenco lessons on steel-string while making lay-away payments on nylon‑string flamenco guitar; practiced like crazy; signed up at Musicians Contact Service; could not find band seeking fledgling female flamenco guitarist
Bought electric guitar; went on many dead-end auditions
Finn and Hansen met at guitar audition for Santa Monica College Jazz Band; started two-guitar cover band with drummer and bassist; played dive bars and clubs in LA, CA's Central Valley, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia
Started all-original band Walking Upright; Hansen switched to bass; with drummer Bill Adams, played LA clubs and released vinyl single Timecard Zombie
Started original band The Ants Will Love It; played LA clubs, got some good reviews, released Start in the Middle CD; got airplay on CA college radio
Quit dayjobs and spent three months driving old Isuzu Trooper down east coast of Mexico to Yucatán peninsula and back through Chiapas and Oaxaca
Returned to LA broke; got evicted; found new dayjobs and apartment; recorded Rumba Mutt CD in tiny living room
