Two sad things:
One: Ben Goode, Cedar bassist, trumpeter, running-partner, and voice-of-calm-and-reason, has had to step down, out of the band due to various understandable tug-of-war factors. Ben was kinda like the 'dad' in our band-family, an important balancing feature both musically and personality-ly and we will all really really miss him.
Two: A crazy time for music. Not long after Ben's Cedar-retirement came the announcement of Danny's Babel-retirement. And with it, the retirement of all things Babel. Babel! Easily one of the very best bands in terms of music, stage presence, and funtimes I've ever played with. My first real rock-and-roll tour was with Babel! If you don't already have it (probably because I gave it to you), I'd recommend running out and grabbing their album Crooked Timber, before it's too late... .
