It’s mental picture time. I’m barely 13 years old and going through the early stages of awkward teen angst. To ease my self-imposed pain, I’m glued to MTV 24 hours a day. Each video was cooler than the last. (Well, almost every video. Even as a gangly teenager, it was still readily apparent to me that Pat Benetar had NO rhythm dancing in “Love Is A Battlefield.” Poor Pat.  Quadriplegics have better coordination.)

One day after school during a Cap’n Crunch bender, I heard a saxophone wailing in the background. I ran in and “discovered” Romeo Void. Four minutes later, I was demanding my Dad shuttle me down to the record store so I could buy the cassette.(He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he did it. Big mistake. He had to listen to that saxophone wailing the next twelve months.)

Along with The B-52’s, I always claimed Romeo Void to be MY group. I wasn’t just a fan, I was their #1 fan. In Des Moines, Iowa. (Duh. In my head I somehow singlehandedly put them on the map. In Des Moines.) I thought lead singer Debora Iyall was cool as shit. And her band mates were easy on the eyes too. They all had shaggy, funky new wave hair and most of them wore guy-liner. Moussed hair + men in make-up + unapologetic siren lead singer = bliss.

Since my life always takes the weirdest turns of events, I’ve since become friends with Debora. Last night while in Sacramento, my crew and I had dinner with her. After grazing for a delightful couple hours, she invited us to come listen to some new music she’d been working on. I nearly fell over. I was suddenly 13 years old again. I could barely contain my enthusiasm. It’s the most amazing mix of electronica, soulful rock, grunge rock and even a little ska thrown in for good measure. From the second Dee pressed play on her iPod, the hairs on the back on my neck stood up. I still have goosebumps, ten hours later. Now THAT’S good music. She’s planning on releasing a new CD sometime in 2010. Get those pre-orders in early people.

Trust me, I was MUCH more calm and collected then the first time we met. She laughed when I told her my behind-the-scenes drama. True story—when she and her husband Patrick joined us for dinner in June, I started hyperventilating. My videographer actually smacked me upside the back of the head seconds before Dee arrived at the table. It hurt like hell, but calmed me down.

This time I only hyperventilated once. When I started singing one of Romeo Void’s songs and Dee chimed in. There I was singing along with one of my teenage idols.  It was a completely surreal moment—one I will never forget. And one I will cherish forever. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought harmonizing with Debora Iyall was a possibility.

Kids, dreams can come true. Never say never.