Jon Trafton

It’s 1990, the scene opens on one of the quads at the University of Vermont. A circle of well- intentioned, know-it-all 18 year-olds with awkwardly outgrown bowl haircuts play hacky sack – in the worn sneakers and plaid shirts their mothers bought them for their last semester of high school. Jon Trafton and I were both doing our best not to drop the hack, and to fit in of course.

Amongst the crew Jon Trafton stood out as a lanky, reserved, and confident hacky moderate. I remember feeling some sort of connection with him even on that first day of orientation, though I never asked him if he felt the same. Later that week we would find ourselves on another green, playing some Dead tunes, Jon dutifully playing as many Jerry licks as he could with me struggling to remember the words and asserting myself as the center of attention.

In the years that followed, Jon Trafton and I became musical partners – Strange Folk, and then with the addition of Luke Smith (drums) and Eric Glockler (bass), Strangefolk. We spent over a decade making music together, traveling the country and dreaming big dreams. We had some really high highs (musically and individually), and some rather low lows, but regardless of how history remembers us (or frankly what we remember), one thing is for certain: it was a rich time in life and a deeply personal journey.

Having Jon Trafton participate in Some Assembly Required is indeed a full circle. Especially since the song he joins us on, “Crest of My Wing,” was written when I was 16 and was one of the first tunes Strange Folk ever played. It has never before been recorded. Good to see you old friend – it has been too long.