Today is the Best Day Ever is:
Nick Cotter, Dillon McManus and Evan Oslund

All songs written and performed by Nick Cotter, Dillon McManus and Evan Oslund. Trumpet written by Dan Evick, Ryan Ruff and Nick Cotter. Trumpet performed by Ryan Ruff. All songs recorded, mixed and mastered by Matt Very of Very Tight Recordings.

Photography by Nick Cotter. Art direction by Nick Cotter and Alaina Bernstein.

These past two years have been some of the hardest we have had to face – both individually and as a band. We’ve lost loved ones to suicide and addiction. We’ve felt our autonomy stripped away from us because of struggles with chronic health conditions. We’ve watched as the current federal administration has served deeper blows to those populations who have already been struggling for decades, and to the vulnerable among us. We’ve come to personally realize what is all too often cited via research in the behavioral and social sciences; that the places and spaces in which we grow and develop have profound and lasting impacts on our long term cognitive, developmental, physical and mental health outcomes. Some of us have learned that while protective factors such as support, opportunity and the ability to benefit from such opportunity have helped us move far beyond where our parents came from, the effects of childhood abuse linger for far longer than we’d think – no matter how old we are. And we’ve learned what it’s like to truly want to put an end to all of it.

But, we’ve also learned how to persevere in the face of these tragedies and chronic struggles. And we’ve been able to do this because of the insane amount of support that we’ve received from friends, family and strangers. And because of the opportunities we’ve been able to benefit from due to the privileges we now hold. And also because of some of the unbelievably vigilant professionals working in the Pittsburgh mental health system. Truly, Resolve Crisis has saved the life of at least one of us on numerous occasions. And Prevention Point Pittsburgh has done the same for numerous members of our community. Supporting Prevention Point will always be a staple of this band due to the loss of our friend Jared Joyner.

As we say at every single one of our shows, we write about challenging topics because doing so is therapeutic, and it allows us to take at least some ownership of the bad things that we typically can’t control. Doing so has granted us a greater sense of autonomy; something that can easily feel lost in the face of hardship. But we do not intend to romanticize the topics we write about. There is nothing romantic about poverty, suicide, chronic illness or abuse. And so please, if you feel suicidal, or even if you just need someone to talk to, please reach out to Resolve Crisis or the National Suicide Hotline – just as we have. And just as we also say at shows, please support those organizations like Prevention Point, an organization that is on the front lines of the opioid crisis. And please continue to do what you can as citizens to make change for the better in this country. And as social workers, public policy analysts and advocates ourselves, please feel free to reach out and talk to us about actionable things that we can all do to create positive change in Pittsburgh and beyond.

For Pittsburgh Peeps: (888)-796-8226

For Everyone: 1-800-273-8255

Thank you to the people who helped make our debut album happen by standing by our side during the hardest of times, contributing to our album GoFundMe campaign, and teaching us to reach for something more:

Bryan and Lorraine Cotter, Patrick McManus, Scotti Hutton, Janet Summers and Roland Oslund, Mark, Rhonda, Amanda, Justin, Taylor and Jared Joyner, Adam Liss, Andrew Eskelund, Anthony Schnelle, Apples (Alive and Kicking), Barbie Mikulla, Brigid Carey, Butch Maxwell, Carley South, Charlie Cannon, Chris Cramer, Chris McCarrick, Chris Prangley, Colleen Cadman, Cory Matz, Dan Edgar, Dave Marconi, Dave Sinneway, Emma Fiorita, Ethan Hammersmith, Elizabeth Bain, Eric Gramszlo, Erica Lee, Faith Cotter, Fatima Bunafoor, Gabriel Griffin, Grapes (RIP), Ian Parissi, J Doty, Jafar Haider, James Reid, Jessika Lopez, Joan Cotter, Jodi Salant, John Boyle, John Cotter, John Mcmorrs, Julie Schaefer, Justin Swoyer, Karissa Martin, Kayla Nieman, Kelby Whitehill, Kevin Connell Muth, Margaux Deverin, Megan Berringer, Megan Roe, Melissa Frank, Alana & Patrick Muth, Peter Muth, Panther (Alive and Well), Pickles (RIP), Preetha Swamy, Precious Nate Barker, Randa Shannon, Rob DeSantis, Rory Beck, Ryan Naumann, Sarah Schrag, Shannon Messana, Sneaker (Also Alive), Sofia Davis-Fogel, Sonya Acosta, Sydney Turnwald, Taylor Wilkerson, Teagan Nash, Tim Thompson, peeps in Mental Health and to all of our other family and friends at AmeriCorps, Bethany College, Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, University of Pittsburgh and Wheeling Jesuit University.