NORFOLK — Navy veteran Nathan Libby has a day job, likes to drink “grown-up beer” and is a self-proclaimed “bad guitarist” with only a few chords in his repertoire.

The 48-year-old Ghent man said his dream of rock ‘n’ roll stardom died during his youth. The years between then and now haven’t stopped him from beginning his quest to find other musicians who just want to jam.

Recently, he decided to start a rock band, so he took to Craigslist and posted a witty ad to find musicians. The post’s title reads: “S****y guitarist seeking s****y bass player, s****y drummer.”

At 19, he bought his first guitar and said he doesn’t have nearly the amount of experience someone playing guitar for 29 years might have.

“I have defied the odds by managing to preserve the refreshing, edgy sound of a guy who just started playing last year,” he wrote online.

The ideal candidates for the band, Libby said, are guys in their 30s or 40s who have a sense of humor and feasible ambition.

“Yeah, my ad was tongue-in-cheek, but the point I was trying to make is that I’m not looking for rock Gods. I just want people who want to play music together,” Libby said.

“We’re not going to get a record deal or go on tour. If it so happens that we’re playing Granny’s on a Friday night or something, then great. I don’t care if we never gig, I just want to get together and play music.”

Libby said the group would ideally practice at a drummer’s place, so lugging the kit around isn’t a hassle.

“I’ll buy the beer,” Libby wrote in the ad. “We’re gonna need it.”

At this point, Libby said he’s gotten a couple responses from the ad, but nothing more than conversations started over email.

Chad Huddleston, one of Libby’s best friends, said he actually doesn’t think Libby is a bad guitarist and has known him for about 17 years.

“He’s being super modest on that one because he’s musically inclined,” Huddleston said about the Craiglist ad. “He’s got the math brain that goes with it. They call him IT Jesus at work, and he’s just a smart guy.”

A couple months ago, Libby sparked Huddleston’s interest in bass guitar and convinced him to get one.

“I had an interest in bass a long time ago when I was in the Navy, but no dedication to learn to play. I think [Libby] knew that,” Huddleston said. “When our friends would get together, they would occasionally play acoustic guitars, so I figured I might as well join in … it would be great if we could find a drummer”

Now all that’s left for Libby to do is to find someone to supply the rhythm, a singer, another guitarist or just anyone with an instrument interested in collaborating, no matter what experience they have.

Libby said his goal going into a new musical project would be to learn about 10 songs the group can play together start to finish.

“I don’t feel like I’m getting better as a musician, because I’m playing by myself all the time,” Libby said. “The key thing to getting better, in my opinion, is playing with other people to propel you to become better.”

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