So, I had every intention of making my next post a post all about summer's closing. I was going to talk about all the adventures I had, cool things I accomplished, the craziness that is house hunting, and the stresses of starting all over in a new district (that is fully under construction), but something I heard on the radio this morning has inspired me to change that plan (although I should still be making that post in the next 7 days). After getting out of the shower this morning, the radio announcer introduced "Too Much" by Dave Matthews Band and stressed to listen closely to LeRoi Moore on the sax. I thought it was odd for two reason. First, this particular station rarely plays any Dave. Second, it was the album cut, so I didn't hear anything particularly special about the song. Then, after the song had ended, the DJ shared that LeRoi died yesterday. The press release on the official Dave Matthews Band website says:
We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.
My first response was simply WOW. If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE DMB fan. Just look around my blog and you will see multiple references to the band. A few seconds after I heard about LeRoi's death, it hit me that I would NEVER see the band perform as a whole unit ever again. If I wasn't bitter ENOUGH over the unfortunately events of missing the last two tours... Let me refresh your memory. Two summers ago Keith, Carlie, Pat, and I attempted to drive to Alpine Valley for the yearly show. In Janesville (less than 40 miles from East Troy) the tranny went out in my car. We never made it. I was VERY upset, needless to say. And what made it so much worse was that the band played "Loving Wings" that night; that is a very rare concert song. It is only two cds, both part of the Gorge 6 cd pack; the song played during our wedding ceremony. That tour, two summers ago, would have been my last chance to see the band play all together. This past Aug (the 9th) DMB played at Alpine Valley again. It was also the same weekend of Western Days, so obviously we didn't' go to the concert.
Anyway, rants beside, I just had to share my discontentment related to the passing of LeRoi Moore. He was one of the founders of one of the greatest bands of all time. His talent was not overlooked and will be greatly missed by fans all over the world.
