There's bad times, but that's ok

Whew. It's been a rough week. I had the occasional welling up of the eyes after getting the news of LeRoi's death on Wednesday. But it all hit full on after I downloaded the band's show from Tuesday night. They opened with Bartender ("if I go, before I'm old, dear brother of mine, please don't forget me, if I go") and then Dave made the announcement to the crowd. It was heartwrenching. I could hear his voice was different and that pain opened the floodgates. They played all of Roi's favorites and the drive and passion was very apparent. I understand that Carter was crying during Proudest Monkey. Dave did more primal screaming than normal throughout. So Damn Lucky now has new meaning and Dave told the story of when he first saw LeRoi and he played the "most beautiful "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" I've ever heard". And then there was Two Step....Carter probably broke cymbals right and left on that one. It was incredible.

I'm not sure what the future of the band will be, but I hope they continue on. I would think Roi would want them to. We will see though. They are continuing with the tour....only about two weeks left and then I'm sure we won't hear anything for months. Whatever decision they make, I will accept it. It won't be an easy one and they have to do what's best for them. I could see them no longer doing studio albums and just touring....which would be fine by me seeing as I don't listen to the studio stuff long after they release it anyway! Their live stuff is where it's at and if they just keep putting out Live Trax, that would satisfy the majority of their fan base.

Ugh. It just SUCKS! I love this band so much....they are more than just a group of guys that plays music. All five of them are so immensely talented and they all play such a huge part in each song. And their music has been the soundtrack of my life for so many years. One of them being gone leaves a huge and unfillable hole. No more soulful solos, no more "If I Only Had A Brain" pennywhistle at the end of Bartender, no more dark shades, no more "our good friend, LeRoi Moore on the saxophone", and no more tremendous presence stage left.

We will all miss you, LeRoi. Thank you for sharing your talent with us and we will see you soon "over the rainbow"...