He was introduced to music at a young age by his uncle, an Atlantic Records employee, who exposed him to influential jazz musicians like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis.

While at the University of Buffalo, he began playing bass guitar with Shady Crady, a precursor to Mercury Rev that also included future bandmate Jonathan Donahue.

The band’s early work, including the albums Yerself Is Steam (1991) and Boces (1993), featured his heavily effects-processed guitars which played a significant role in their complex soundscapes.

[citation needed] His musical setup often includes a range of guitars, predominantly Fender Telecasters customized with double humbucker pickups and tremolo arms.

This device played a significant role in the band’s recordings in the mid-1990s, offering unique sound manipulation capabilities at a time when similar effects were not easily achievable with software.