An Open Letter to The Graduate

NOTE: From what I understand, open letters are usually complaints or humorous. This will not fall into either of those categories.

Corey, Jared, Matt, Max, and Tim,

My feelings toward The Graduate could probably be encompassed in the simple phrase “Thank you”, but that would not do you justice whatsoever. I randomly stumbled upon you during my monthly browsing of the “List of Pop Punk Bands” Wikipedia page this summer, and I decided to give it a try. After hearing “Anhedonia” and “I Survived”, I knew I had struck gold.

As not only musicians but also fans of music, I’m sure there have been bands and/or albums that have affected your lives. The Graduate has been that band for me. Each time I listen to Anhedonia or Only Every Time I get something new out of it. At times I will be mesmerized by the outstanding musicianship exhibited by all five members. Other times I am drawn to Corey’s vocals, which have really grown. Still, other times I am floored by the strength of the lyrics.
Perhaps what draws me most to the music of The Graduate is how relatable and personally relevant it has been to me. In September I had to take an unexpected road trip from Chicago to North Carolina. The only music I listened to for that entire drive came from The Graduate. When “I Survived” played as I was pulling out to make the trek back to Illinois, it truly encompassed my feelings about the trip. Other songs have been so relevant to me it has almost felt as if I had written them myself, especially “Stuck (Inside My Head)” and the bridge of “End of the World Delight”. It feels like every time I give your music a listen I find a new song to put on repeat.

Listening to your albums helped the band to quickly ascend my list of favorite bands, but what put you at the top of my list was watching you perform live in October in Lisle, Illinois. After seeing two of my favorite bands (Relient K and Anberlin) perform together in 2003, I told myself I would not go to another show until it was a show I thought could compare to the other. Not only did The Graduate step up to the plate, you hit the musical equivalent of a grand slam onto Waveland Avenue. The energy and enthusiasm was unparalleled, and the quality of the show was amazing. I brought a friend with me to the show who had never heard The Graduate, and he was already a fan before you had finished the opener. As I told Corey and Max that night, it was the best 40 minutes my ears have ever experienced.

In closing, thank you. Thank you for being my soundtrack for 2010. Thank you for putting out amazing music. Thank you for putting on an incredible live show, and thank you for being gracious and approachable at the live events. You are my favorite band, and I do not see that changing anytime soon. While much of the world has not yet had their eyes and ears opened to The Graduate, I do not doubt that they soon will. The Graduate has that “it” factor, and I am doing my part to introduce as many people to the band as possible. The band name “The Graduate” is so appropriate. You are moving onward and upward and taking music to a whole new level, just as graduates advance to the next stage in life. I look forward to what is in store for The Graduate in 2011 and beyond, and I hope to experience as much of it firsthand as possible.

Thanks again,
Jakob Duehr