Dear friends, fans,

If you didn't already know, American Relay is taking a little break.

This morning I landed in Amsterdam to begin a two month adventure in Europe and Africa. I have been looking forward to this for a long time, and I am still not fully believing that I have arrived in the auld world.

Things have been snowballing in a mighty positive direction for a few years now, but the pace really picked up starting in Oct. 2007, both for American Relay and myself personally.

For the past year, we have been traveling the west and mid-west of our broken nation, making friends, fans, and beautiful partnerships. To name all of you here would be a monumental feat, but know that your positive energy, love, and support is appreciated beyond words in a blog, and we couldn't be where we are without you. We are hoping to see all of y'all again here soon in 2009.

I will try to include some of my adventures in blogs over the next weeks, especially when it comes to the aural pleasures I will be actively seeking in Africa, and then as I chaperone the unstoppable Reverend Deadeye across Europe on his first overseas tour. Check out his dates at http://www.myspace.com/reverenddeadeye, he's in our top friends too. If you have any requests as to what you would like me to share with you, I'll gladly comply, within reason now people.

Nick and I will return to the studio in Dec.-Jan. to make our full-length follow up to 'Corn and Oil'. Can't tell ya when this'll come out, as it takes many celestial bodies to align, lots of support from a wealth of sources, and Nick and I not to kill each other to get a record done in AR fashion, but expect some new sounds, some auld sounds, and definitely some goddamn loud shit in winter '09!

Gotta get back to doing what I gotta do in this beautiful city -short guy love, respect and gratitude,

Alex