Who were you emulating, when you first started learning to play/write? Do you still try to emulate anyone?

First I wanted to be Uncle Tupelo:
http://tinyurl.com/8s77k
and
http://tinyurl.com/8dkq3
prove that

Then I wanted to be Hüsker Dü
http://tinyurl.com/boyjf
proves that

Then I wanted to be Guided By Voices
http://tinyurl.com/dgdbh
proves that

Now I just wanna sound like me. Even though people accuse us of sounding like Ben Folds. I don't even play piano... it's all Matt's fault.

When I was in a garage band in the 80s, we wanted to be at various times....

The Cure
Echo & the Bunnymen
The Clash
The Feelies

cEvin Key -- if you've seen Ain't It Dead Yet, you'd know why.