Dan Campbell, frontman for the Philadelphia area based pop punk group The Wonder Years has been dabbling in a side project as alter ego, Aaron West in his solo project, Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties. This side project is more of a folk rock taste, with thunderous vocals and acoustic guitars. My fascination with the band is not only due to the fact it is a character study done through music, but Aaron West is living out the worst year of his life. From real world problems of depression, miscarriage, divorce, the loss of a parent, to troubles with alcohol. Rooted in an Irish-Catholic upbringing, and a general confusion about the rest of his life. Campbell perfectly personifies a troubled man going through his own hell.

The first album "We Don't Have Each Other," dropped in July of 2014. With the most recent project "Bittersweet," releasing this year in May. My personal favorite tracks are the "The Thunderbird Inn," off the first album, and "Sixty-Seven Cherry Red," a single from the latter. Ironically they were touring near my area back in June. When I had never even heard of the project. I regret not discovering this sooner, after being an avid fan of TWY, from "The Upsides," released in 2010.

Campbell is a lyrical genius, connecting Aaron West's hardships through several songs. Alone within my favorite tracks, West contacts his mother in '67 Cherry Red, pleading with her over the phone to send money to the Thunderbird, the inn off I-95 where West retires to after failing to pay his rent on time. I've always loved little connections artists make in songs, even spanning several albums.

My opinion? Do not sleep on Dan Campbell, Aaron West, or The Wonder Years.