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Aw, man. I literally just found out now. What a loss. I mean, it's better that he isn't suffering anymore, but he was such a giant. I feel fortunate to have been at that free performance at Trinity Church a few weeks ago that Nels referred to in his eloquent note on his Web site. I'm pretty sure it was Mr. Hill's final public appearance because I know he had canceled a couple of scheduled live tapings at Birdland at the end of March. And I also feel so fortunate to have been able to see that show at the SF Jazz Festival last year where Nels and his group opened for Andrew and his group. Sens

You seem a bit angry about Nels. Or maybe you're just mad at Hixter.

I dunno about the record because I've only heard it once (conscious decision), but in the live arrangement, which I have to think is the same as the studio version, it's Nels who has the initial solo and then Jeff and Pat come in with the counterpoint later.

I haven't read the BV post(s), but I would think maybe the McCarren Pool series is a possibility if they're really gonna play Brooklyn. Don't they pack at least a couple thousand people in there?

I'm pretty stoked for Los Campesinos!

Hey Dave-- Happiest of birthdays, my friend! Hope we get to see each other in June, if not sooner... In the meantime, I raise a glass of (insert something good here) to you! Cheers. Paul.

I would say Muskie's, but it's not there anymore. The site of one of the first big VC meetups, I believe. Duck Walk is a pretty good Thai place just around the corner from the Vic.

for the record, i was nowhere near this show!

I hear there's an abbey there (no, not the Abbey Pub). And speaking of Abbys, Laura, do you think Ms. V could be coerced into venturing back toward the homeland?

Hope you have a wonderful (minor holiday) birthday, Judes! I raise a pint o' Guinness to you!

...and then gave it about three elbow drops and a head butt.

I love it! Sterry Butcher of the Big Bend Sentinel gets the freelance gig for No Dep... And speaking of Marfa, the Liberty Music Hall made it into this month's Esquire --as the best small music venue in America (or something like that). For Heidi, 9:30 was Esquire's overall best venue. Good taste.

Hey Greg, I'm definitely feeling you. I've sort of had this personal policy of waiting to listen to stuff ever since YHF. That was a unique case, of course, because we weren't really sure when it would officially come out. But listening to that record so much before it came out kind of took away some of the excitement and freshness for me. I mean, I still love it, but somehow it just wasn't the same as hearing something for the first time on release day. Now I admit that, in this day and age, it's unrealistic to expect stuff not to leak early. And I have listened to SBS once through. But

I'm assuming this was somewhat pre-planned, but I'm sure it was very sweet.

Thanks for the tip! I just bought mine. I hope you can do a little road trip, even if just to Berlin! We will work out the logistics...

I'm planning on it, Dunja. The timing works out. Just need to find myself a plane ticket. (Hoping I can still take advantage of my small remaining time left as a student!) Question: Are all those shows you got tickets for general admission, or are they reserved seating? It doesn't look like we can buy tickets for any of the Euro shows yet, except ATP and the the Barcelona fest...

Dunja, is your tour offer still good?

Here's my advice: Go the Schuba's party at Yard Dog, hang out until Neil Young shows up and then be in the background of the picture the Austin Chronicle takes of him. No, actually, the main insights I gleaned from last year were to avoid bands that just seem to be getting a little too much hype, really try and focus on seeing acts that you might not otherwise get to see and, above all, don't sweat it (because there's no chance you're even gonna be able to see a fraction of what you plan to see)...

Can't believe it's already now been more than a week since 2/17/07. I miss you guys!

Thankfully, the Stardog is not always right on. At least with the knees.

In all the recent excitement over that band and its potential shows and record releases and such, I just looked at Nels' Web site and saw that he's doing a whole week in NYC! I hadn't seen that posted anywhere around these parts, so I figured I'd give it a plug... Here's the schedule: MAR 26 | JAZZ STANDARD | NYC The Jeff Gauthier Goatette (Gauthier/Alex Cline/David Witham, Joel Hamilton, NC) MAR 27 | JAZZ STANDARD | NYC Scott Amendola Band (Amendola, Jenny Scheinman, John Shifflett, NC) MAR 28 | TBA | NYC Myra Melford MAR 29 | JAZZ STANDARD | NYC NC & Friends play the music of Andrew

Yes, definitely! I've never been to Germany, so I'm hoping for some summer dates there. Actually, I'm really hoping to do the whole "low countries" tour--Holland and Belgium as well. Maybe I can even get someone called Gwen to come along.

I'm totally hoping for some, Dunja! I would so be there...

I was gonna go with, "Who is that scarved man?"

I think that was mostly a Jeff and Dave vocal affair, which I will edit my setlist to note. Things were beginning to get out of hand, in a great way, by that point. But it started to get hard to keep track of who was doing exactly what...