Guitarist Caiden shares about how being an adrenaline junkie led him to playing lead guitar.
Caiden CraigHey everyone! Hope you’re doing well and that you weren’t waiting too long to read the most interesting blog post of your life (not… or maybe). Anyways, you might be thinking, what could this blog possibly be about? For those who know me, you might already have an idea. For those who don’t—strap in for a little insight into this crazy, unhinged lead guitarist.
Motorsports
When you picture little Caiden, you might imagine a tiny guitar in my hands or me air-guitaring to classic rock—which would be partially true, but that came later. What I actually did was race toy cars and dream of being a Formula 1 driver.
Racing was always something I gravitated toward. There was just something about pushing something to its absolute limit. The adrenaline that came across in all the motorsport media I watched always left me on the edge of my seat.
I begged my mom to take me go-karting on weekends. My goal? Always get the best times, learn every racing line, and just be the best. But the biggest thing was the adrenaline. That rush right before the race starts—when everything settles and it’s just you, the car, and the track. It was like a drug, and I couldn’t get enough.
I know, I know—drugs and kids don’t mix. And yes, I’m speaking like I was an F1 driver myself. But in my head, I was, every single weekend at the go-kart track. So don’t stomp on my racing dream.
Alright, next up—strap in. I’m pulling an Eli move, but instead of music, I’m giving you some Movie/TV picks for all you cinephiles out there. Why? Because it’s the perfect way to give you a peek inside my nerdy little head, show you why I’m into racing, and set the scene for what you might experience yourself. Hope you enjoy!
🎬 INITIAL D
Yeah, I know… anime again. With all the Japanese-related articles we’ve been writing, you probably already know we’re weebs. But if you’ve ever heard “cars” and “anime” in the same sentence, you’ve heard of Initial D. And if you have, why haven’t you watched it yet?! Jokes aside, it’s the perfect intro to Japanese street racing and the JDM scene. Amazing Eurobeat tracks, hype but somehow chill vibes, and—two words—plot armor.
🎬 F1 : The Movie
Hands down the best racing movie I’ve seen. Classic veteran-teaches-rookie story, all while making Brad Pitt look like a total chad. The plot is surface-level, but the filmmaking? Unreal. Real cars, real tracks, real driving. This one’s going to be timeless.
Baseball
Baseball? … Really? No roller coasters, no skydiving, no bungee jumps? I thought you were supposed to be an adrenaline junkie?!
Shut up. Let me finish.
Yes—baseball. Growing up, it was the only sport I actually loved watching live. Nothing beat cheering on the Dodgers with stadium food in hand. So eventually, I joined a team in high school. I barely knew anything beyond the surface-level rules, but the team welcomed me in and showed me the ropes. They even gave me a nickname: Smalls—because I got a black eye during tryouts (real ones know why).
It took me a while to get decent. A lot of games were pretty average. But there was one that gave me that same adrenaline rush I felt racing go-karts:
My team had been in a slump, and we needed this win badly. Scoreless game. Bases loaded. My turn at bat. At this point, I was still pretty rusty. The count goes to 3–2. Everything slows down—it’s just me and the pitcher. Heart racing, I tell myself: whatever happens, just swing. I swing. Crack. Ball flies to right field. Two runs scored. The crowd cheers. Morale skyrockets. We end up winning 10–6. That moment—I was in the zone. Adrenaline pumping. That’s why I fell in love with baseball.
More movie recs! These two films either made me want to pick up a bat myself or completely transported me into the heart of the sport. Maybe they’ll inspire you to give baseball a try… or at least catch a game!
🎬 The Sandlot
A simple but legendary story about kids welcoming a new guy to play ball at the sandlot. The new kid’s nickname? Smalls. Funny how that works out. Whether you like baseball or not, this movie captures pure 90s summer nostalgia.
🎬 Money Ball
Yeah, another Brad Pitt movie—I swear it’s a coincidence. It’s an underdog story, but from the nerdy money-and-stats side of baseball. Sounds boring, right? Wrong. It nails the heart of the game and has a killer cast.
Guitar
Ok folks, last stop on this journey—what you actually know me for: guitar.
I started in middle school guitar class—and I sucked. My friends teased me for being slow to get the hang of it, but that just made me want to keep pushing. Eventually, I started singing and playing at the same time, which caught my teacher’s attention. Before I knew it, I was front and center in our concert—singing, playing, and even taking solos.
When that concert finally came, right before the curtains opened, I felt that rush again. Heart racing, adrenaline surging, totally alive. Suddenly, it was just me and the music. That feeling—that zone—is why I still do this today. Whether it’s playing a big show, recording for the EP, or just jamming with the band, that rush never leaves.
That’s why I love the things I love—they make me feel alive.
Lastly, what you’ve all been waiting for: music picks! This time, I’m combining all three interests into one. One track for racing, one for baseball, and one for guitar. Think of them as my personal anthems for each. Crank them up before hitting the highway, heading into a game, or shredding on your guitar. Enjoy!
🎧 Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Watch the start of the F1 movie and you’ll get it. Perfect for speeding in your car (don’t actually do that—drive safe).
🎧 Swing, Swing - All American Rejects
Not about baseball at all, but it always reminded me of playing. A funny little pre-game hype song.
🎧 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson
There’s more than one Robert Fripp fan in this band.
One of the best prog/jazz fusion tracks ever. Robert Fripp goes insane on this one. If you can play it on guitar—you’re a god.
That’s all from me, everyone! Hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about what makes me the “unhinged guitarist” I am. Drop a comment about what gives you the most adrenaline—or let me know what you thought of the recs. I would love to hear from you.
Until next time,
Your Favorite Guitarist,
– Caiden
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