Rob is moving. I'm really sad.

Dropping the promo mask and first-person-plural voice for a moment -- hey, it's hard to get "real" on your bandspace:

Happy as I am for Rob and Amy that they'll be moving into a beautiful new home in NorCal, making a fresh start away from L.A. with all its charmed baggage, I'm still sorry beyond words to see them go. Sorry that the most magical and rock-solid incarnation of this band is coming to an end... sorry that one of the best all-around musicians I've had the pleasure of playing with won't be behind us, egging us on... sorry that one of the most fun and funny (yet resilient and balanced... when do you ever hear those words applied to drummers, a notoriously crazed breed?) and favorite-est peeps I know won't be living just 'round the hill from us any longer... *sigh* Selfish of me, I guess.

You don't know how many times I've turned around to watch Rob, jaw dropped in amazement and amusement by his joyful, Keith Moon-meets-Animal (yet ever MUSICAL and totally locked in with the rest of us) playing, and tuned out everything else on stage while thinking: That guy is the most exciting drummer on the planet, and he's in our band!

Acoustic shows with Rob were a treat to play too, because he pretty much can do anything: percussion, vocals, guitar -- e.g., check out the "Dueling Banjos" version of "What's Going On"... Beatboxing on "Straight Outta Compton"? He owns that shit. Best cherry-picked travel CDs too. Golden times, all.

After this, who knows? We may yet get to rock future out-of-town shows with Rob (you hear me, Sacramento?) but for now it's really just starting to sink in -- end of an era, and all that. And that bums me out.

It's said that you can't build your house on sand. A band is like that: you gotta have that solid foundation. Rob is a fucking diamond.

Love ya, Orb! ARRRRRRR!!!
-- Laura


P.S. If any of y'all think it would be a good idea to miss the show @ Mr. T's tomorrow, don't say we didn't warn you of a lifetime tinged with bitter tears of regret.