I haven’t played in a band for years — until tonight. It wasn’t the kind I used to enjoy as a confused teenager or hipster undergrad. But it sure felt the same.

I’m talking about Guitar Hero III for Wii; specifically playing online together with an old friend from high school, Casey Willis.

We took turns playing imaginary guitar and bass in real-time on Fisher Price-like axes — he in Georgia, and I in Utah. Even though I work online for a living, I’m still amazed by the simple things the internet is capable of achieving. In this case helping two has-beens feel young again.

And we didn’t even have to deal with a mediocre PA system.