The End Is Near

Well, it looks like our 14-year reign of terror might be over. Danny Welsh, the drummer that took us to newfound heights of musicianship and ridiculousness, has decided to move to Memphis, and the band will not continue without him. At this point, having switched drummers so many times, we just can't do it again.

We wish Danny and his fiance', Carola, all the best, and we secretly hope that they'll move back to Gainesville eventually, so that we can hurt your ears again. But we're not holding our collective breath.

It's bittersweet, of course. As the remaining members lurch into their forties, playing in a band, and a good one, is a rare form of pleasure/escape in our increasingly "adult" lives. I will miss the comradeship, the "band-ness" that happens when the four of us are together. It's one of those special things that happens and goes unnoticed until it's gone. I'm a sap, of course, but that's how I am.

Danny is a great drummer, too. That's important to say. He still knocks my socks off at practice on a regular basis. I love the little gleam he gets in his eye when he's just inserted some unexpectedly awesome fill into a song, and he's thinking, "Hell yeah... that was cool." And then there's "the lean." There are times when we're playing a song when the collective energy level surges forward. We all respond to the surge differently. Steven bends over and begins to punish his guitar. Karl jumps around, veins in his neck begin to stick out. I pound my foot into the ground and scream for joy. Danny sort of rises in his seat a little, and just leans into whatever he's playing a little more. Suddenly, the shit just takes off. Hard to explain.

Anyway, we've got two shows left before he leaves. To wit:

• Saturday, June 13, at 1982 with 8 Track Automatic and a nameless band featuring former members of Beat Buttons and current members of Grabass Charlestons.
• Friday, July 10, at Common Grounds with the same unnamed band.

Please come and see us, and bring cameras. We'd love for you all to document these shows as much as possible.
Thanks for Rocking.