I’m so glad that I was able to reconnect with Jeff recently when he asked me to do that session. We started emailing each other more regularly from then on, and I’m really glad we did. We ended our zoom interview (part of this recent Pipeline! session) by saying “love you” to each other. Now knowing that was the last time we would get a chance to speak together, it means a lot to me that we had a chance to say that. I don’t think we’d ever said it before. He was a super sweet guy, such a good listener, always positive, and had a funny way of razzing me and my bandmates about things we should be doing differently (in a loving, helpful way of course). I miss him a ton.
appearances: Sept. 25, 2007 and Oct. 20, 2009
Breeze liner notes (from Bandcamp): The first time I saw Phantom Buffalo, they were trying to play an acoustic set in an old Maine church in the midst of a psychedelic festival. They were doing a bad job of being acoustic; with the quintet trying to restrain themselves, they somehow wound up making the biggest impression of the weekend.
With a legacy that would make a great Behind the Music episode, Phantom Buffalo made a series of exquisite records but were constantly tackled by perils that might even make Nigel Tufnel break character. Even getting them to venture to Boston was a challenge, with it now being more than a decade since their last Pipeline! appearance.
Johnny had recently shared a song from some new music he is working on so, I figured since he wouldn’t have to make the commute from Maine, this could work. Aside from the unfinished take at the cover tune (the Bee Gees’ “World”), it seems like things worked out just fine.