What if chasing the dream isn’t the point—and the real win is still loving creating music decades later?
In this episode of Gen X Crisis, Robert talks with Jim Gerdeman, an old friend whose life has been shaped by a lifelong devotion to making music. Jim shares the arc of growing up in Cleveland, discovering music as a lifeline, and building a life in Boston as an active musician with The I Want You.
Rob and Jim talk about the shift from wanting to be a rock star to creating purely for the joy of it, how the music scene has changed from the analog days to AI and algorithms, and the way middle age reframes ambition. There’s also nostalgia for early high school and college bands, cassette tapes, and the unique magic of playing in a room with other musicians.
This one’s about holding onto what you love, no matter where the mainstream is headed.
Visit www.genxcrisis.com to subscribe to Robert’s Substack and get exclusive updates.
And check out Jim Gerdeman's entire catalog at https://jimgerdeman.bandcamp.com/ and
Jim's new vinyl album Mystery Rhyme coming this Fall 2025.
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