Since age 18, ear-taught, "inherited" first guitar when my sister moved... I studied some music theory in college, pretty much went into songwriting by the time I was nearly comfortable playing out. Scores of songs betraying worthy influences.
My Rosetta Stone was a songbook of pre-disco Bee Gees hits that about doubled my chord repertoire and gave me the names to match what I'd picked up already.

The Kinks, October 1969, Fillmore East in NYC. It was the night after the Miracle Mets won the '69 World Series and the local band that opened, being the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, dedicated every song to them. My date was a fish. We didn't stay fo the feature act, Spirit, which suited me fine -- I went for The Kinks and didn't care who knew!
A highly celebrated Kinks moment occurred when Dave Davies forgot the words to "Death of a Clown.". Reference to the "fucking words" incident is made in the liner notes to "The Kink Kronikles" LP, and I was there, seven rows back from the stage!

Alvarez MF-80 Acoustic-Electric ("Haley"), Peavey J-15 "Mississippi Mustang" Electric ("Fritzie"), Ashbory bass ("Thumper"), Fender Squire 7:8 scale bass ("K-Lo"); NEW: Washburn cutaway Acoustic-Electric classical ("Elfego").
Behringer bass/combo amp 50W; Crate Acoustic guitar Amp CA112.

The Kinks. Ray Davies didn't mince words. "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" was my anthem. The opening verse couldn't have been more addressed to me if it came handwritten in the mail. As I get more comfortable with bass, I discover more and more the particular influence of original Kinks bassist Pete Quaife.

Did a contemporary Christian band once, for a Catholic music ministry. We broke up because during the priest scandal it was decided (my favorite three words) our liturgical music should reflect the good old days...

Lindisfarne. The vocal arrangements. As a player I'm a ham-and-egger, my bailiwick is vocal arrangement. In the real world, I'd like to weigh in wherever a third vocal would be an improvement. Nothing leaves me emptier than hearing a duet that originated as a trio but there weren't enough vocalists who knew and could reach a vital part.

"Rock Jam New Milford", Nov. 19, 2011, New Milford, NJ; 230 in attendance. Played covers, but got to do so on the same bill as the bands I used to just watch as a kid. Bought my bass "KLo" that morning, met its namesake that evening.
Smallest was a mispublished community center gig, compliments of our local Mount Livestock Academy of the Performing Arts. Enough said.

"Something Else" by The Kinks. I bought it sound unheard in the early weeks of 1968. This album made me not only want to write songs but believe that I could and that it was worth my while; still, "As good as it's been though mine have got // I wish I could write like David Watts".