Hello, I'm Mbo. My real name is Matthew and I am 20 years old (soon to be 21!) As a former military brat (my father retired from the Marines Corps in May) I have been many places, and therefor technically have no "home." I was born in Albany, Georgia, and have lived in Georgia twice, California twice, Okinawa, Japan once, and North Carolina twice, which is where I live now. But, since both of my parents were born and raised in Philadelphia, PA before they joined the Marines AND 97% of their families live their, I consider Philadelphia "home." Right now (on weekends & holidays) I live with my parents in "the great metropolis" of Hubert, NC, about halfway between Jacksonville and Swansboro (the great metropolis consists of a post office, a barber shop, and a bingo parlor.) During the week I live here in Greenville, NC (about 85 miles from Hubert)in an apartment with my sister as we attend East Carolina University (GO PIRATES!)I am majoring in Communication Arts (or commercial art as it is sometimes called.) I love music--I've been known to listen intently to music on commercials, and even made a tape of my favorite computer game music. As for instruments, I play guitar and fiddle. I have had a classical background in both of these instruments, the guitar more so than the violin, and if it weren't for the size of my college major, I would be minoring in classical guitar performance (Villa-Lobos rules!) I've always been interested in Celtic music--when I was four, my mother asked me if there was a musical instrument that I would like to play, I said "Bagpipes!"(being of mostly Italian & German heritage it is strange that the perhaps 1/15 of my that MIGHT be of Celtic extraction has come to the forefront.) The total Celtic boom happened when in Fall of 1997, my NPR station replaced Weekend Radio with The Thistle & Shamrock. Thus began the downward spiral in Celtic music--and here I am today, playing Celtic music, singing Celtic music (even in public!) and writing Celtic music (I think my last composition was listing #54 on the Mbo celtic music tally.) I love being on Mudcat because there are so many people here that know things that a young fella like me can glean--from music to philosophy to politics. It is also a great place to get INTELLIGENT and in-depht conversations about folk & traditional music, which is (sadly) not one of the things you can talk to anyone on campus about. But I love Rock & Celtic & Classical & Opera & Jazz & world folk & yes, even some musicals (gasp!) "Praise be to 'Catters of the world, triumphant is their sword, allegiance is their word..."

--Mbo