Starting a band may not seem like a logical choice for someone who describes himself as "a failed guitarist without any musical talent." But that thought did not dissuade Matt Wyskiel '87.

When his in-laws gave his son, Tolliver '23, a bass guitar, Matt could not resist the temptation to pick it up and start fiddling around. "It's only got four strings!" he realized. "And they're thicker than guitar strings, so they don't hurt my fingers. Plus, you don't have to play chords. I think I can do that!"

After a couple of years, he had built up a repertoire of about 40 songs but started to wonder where his efforts were going. So, on a whim, Matt reached out to Betsey Hobelmann P'26 who he knew to be an excellent singer, in the fall of 2021 to see if she wanted to form a band. She quickly and enthusiastically responded,"Yes!" And Betsey came with a guitarist: her brother-in-law, Todd. Matt's college classmate and local hand surgeon Dr. Jim Higgins P'27 then jumped in behind the drums. And just like that, Midlife Crisis was formed.

Three or four practices in, Betsey brought in the final piece of the puzzle: her friend, keyboardist Toby Bozzuto '92, P'27. And on April 30, 2022, the band played its first live gig in the driveway of Betsey's Ruxton home. Since then, Midlife Crisis has played eight more shows at homes, clubs, and, most recently, at Towson's Charles Village Pub.

Matt describes their music as "rock through the decades," and their covers range from the Doobie Brothers to Adelle, with plenty of U2, Coldplay, and Bon Jovi in the mix. And no show is truly complete without Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine," which is their go-to closing song.

To hear more about their adventures, follow them on Instagram.