Thanks Jason for 17 years

[music___me]

Summer of 1994. I'll never forget reaching down towards the bottom shelf at the store to pick up that silver colored cassette. A band called Starflyer 59. (At the time, nobody in the Denver scene called it 'Silver', we all thought it was self titled.) I had been downtown Denver earlier that week asking my friend Keith what some good new bands were and he mentioned Starflyer. So, I picked it up and started listening.

I worked in a warehouse during those days and carried a Sony Walkman. I wore that tape out! I listened to it for hours and hours and for days on end while I was at work. I was 'forever alone' at the time and it kept me going.

Pretty soon, I heard they would be coming to town as an opening band for The Prayer Chain at the Aztlan Theater in Denver. I went. Before the show, Jason was sitting in the back of the theater with one of the band members. Maybe it was Andrew, not sure. (I don't know if Andrew Larson toured or not.) So, I had a nice little chat with Jason before the show. He was encouraged that I listened to them so much.

It was a great show too! Together with The Prayer Chain, it was a really nice mix.

The years went by and I bought all the releases on cassette, CD and vinyl, sometimes buying duplicates for backups or collecting reasons.

Saw them only two other times in concert. I miss them greatly.

I introduced their music to my wife and children over the years. We're all fans, big fans! Even my 12 year old son listens to the old cassettes in his room.

About 4 years ago, some of you may remember, we fell on hard times (who hasn't?) and I had to sell of the bulk of my collection. Goodbye to all that beautiful vinyl. But, I made enough to pay the rent, so we were good. Someday, I will build up the collection again.

My interest in other bands has come and gone in the last 17 years. But there will always, only be one true music love for me, and that's SF59.

Thanks Jason!

[popvoxmusic]

Well said, sir.

[Benny]

If Lose Your Mind was the last song, at least it was a great one.

[rcreek00]

not to steal your show at all but i thought i'd share a bit too....

my friend john listened to gene eugene (DA, Choir, etc.) and was into a lot of brainstorm artists.  i was the tooth and nail kid at my church, mostly like the more punk stuff but johns sister (who got me into morellas forest) let me borrow this album, Gold, by SF59.  I took the cd with me to Kansas City as I went on a weekend trip with my dad and listened to that cd over and over and over and over....I was blown away then sad to find out I had missed other albums (silver, shes the queen and le vainquer).  I quickly bought those albums and became a starflyer 59 fan.

when americana came out i started drumming and ive forever been in love with the prayer chain and wayne everetts simple yet amazing drumming; i went off to bible school in '98 and bought the fashion focus and everyone makes mistakes on their release dates. loved those albums but was a bit sad of the change...

i knew a manager at a cd store and he gave me an advance copy of leave here a stranger (one of my fav albums)  i had it in the cd player and playing when i wrecked my camry in '01 (yes everyone was ok).  

i saw starflyer 59 play multiple times, lucky for me, at cornerstone and here in tulsa (i caught a couple of acoustic shows too) - i got to see him play with his lenz/swift line-up which was amazing when Old came out.  

I was in my late 20s when his last several albums came out; i may have lost some interest in the albums and with his lack of touring, however starflyer 59 is one of my favorite bands ever and was very influencial in that circle of musicians.  i believe jason could have made the band big but that was never his focus.  long live 'em...

[music___me]

not to steal your show at all but i thought i'd share a bit too....

It's not my show. We're all in this together. I thank you for your thoughts and for sharing your history, they are most welcome.