Devon Shirley

Age: 32
Instrument: Drums
Moment/experience when you knew you wanted to pursue music: Watching my close friends Gregg Ziemba and Kyle Gray play little DIY punk shows with their band A.D.D. completely changed my life. I was probably 14 and was like "This. This is what I want to do. I need to learn an instrument and be in a band. Thanks, guys! :)”
What being in a band has taught you: I've been touring and paying music since I was 19. I've grown into myself on the road and in bands, and I've gone through a lot of hard times while on tour and living out of a van, essentially. I could make a giant list of a million things that being in a band has taught me, but I suppose the biggest thing is it's taught me how to never surrender and to never give up on something you love to do no matter how low things get — perseverance. 
Most noteworthy musical career highlight to date: Years ago I played some Mountain Dew Festival and people were not feeling us AT ALL. I dodged multiple nacho cheese bombs, but my drum kit wasn't as lucky. The floor tom took a direct hit. I left that cheese on there for at least two years. 
Pre-show rituals: Tequila. 
Animal that most illustrates your style in playing/performing: A ring tail lemur...on fire...in space. Fire in space, you ask? How can that be?! It's a vacuum! To which I reply....magic. 
Greatest influences: (Early years) Cursive, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, ATDI, Refused, Dead Kennedys, The Damned. (Later Years) Radiohead, Autolux, The Velvet Teen, My Bloody Valentine, Pizza, Burritos, Whiskey, Ramen, Tequila, Synthesizers, Albert The Dog, Captain Walker, Naps.