Indeed. I've been meaning to express my sadness and condolences to the list since Saturday morning when I read the news that he'd departed this plane, and I've been feeling fairly dismayed ever since. My radio show this past Sunday evening was a tribute to Damo, and included a piece from his performance shortly after the death of MES with Imperial Wax as his backup "sound carriers" band -- I'll pass along the show info & link here shortly.?
A few years ago, after the Covid-19 pandemic cancelled tours everywhere, including one where Damo was supposed to play here in Cleveland with a group of "sound carriers" that included a few frenz of mine, I wrote to him via his email list, and was very surprised to receive a thoughtful reply from him, with his colorful and poetic use of language. Nearly a year or so later, I happened to have a dream in which he appeared, and wrote him another email relating it. Below is my note to him about it, and his delightful reply:
'In this dream, I was playing banjo in a band that mostly played instrumental music, no vocals usually. But in the dream, I was telling someone that sometimes, when we get a good jam going, we will sometimes have a vocalist come join us and sing to what we're playing. And I said, "We don't always know when we'll need him, so I carry him around in my banjo case with me, and when we need him, he will just jump out and start singing with us!" -- As it happened, this singer was *you*, Damo Suszki -- who, in my dream, you were kind of like a little magical elf who spent most of the time sleeping in a little tiny pocket in my banjo case, but you could magically pop out and become full size when you wanted to sing!'
- and his reply, from a couple of days later:
"Good evening Jeff!
Maybe I¡¯m anywhere¡.. last time I heard a guy saw me in his village but I wasn¡¯t there, I avoid that place as I feel not good energy is there.
Anyway, I had also a banjo when I was middle teen. I prefer that instrument, because it¡¯s loud. I cannot remember what I played, probably imitation country western.
So, possibly that time period of me is sleeping in banjo case.? But, this Damo is not magically pop out and become full size, this Damo is grow up in three minutes after take hot shower like instant cup noodle soup.
Have a Nice Holiday seasoned NewYear!
God BlessYou!
Energy!
Damo @ Cologne"
Energy!
JC
