PopCanon Condolences Page
Here's what people have said since we announced
that we were officially breaking up after 21
April 2001:
{Have comments of your own? Tell us at
From Jared Flamm, Gville's
Tom Petty:
Viva La Pop Canon!
From Steve Ware, a fixture at
our local shows:
I need more hankies to dry my eyes... No more Hardback... No more Covered Dish...
No more PopCanon... Another Gainesville treasure bites the dust, but at least
the memories (and CDs) will last forever...thanks for rockin'...see ya tomorrow,
if not sooner, like tonight @ FL Theatre...thanks for rockin'...Steve. P.S.
Did I already mention "THANKS FOR ROCKIN'"!
From Hairy Monkhorst, Squeaky
fellow:
That was beautiful. Very Sad and Very beautiful email. Well Done, Rockers. I
doubt we can survive long without you all.
From Pose, king of Pain:
Ned, Damn. Did you pen that Pop Canon email on the final days of the band? I
thought that was the most classy, well written piece on the subject I have ever
read. I even printed a copy so I can have it 'for real'. Very thoughtful and
well done. My compliments. You guys are a class act all the way. Now I have
something in MY damn eye, and it ain't my Col. Klink monocle.
From Christopher Weingarten, Detours editor and occasional PC breakbeat/breakdancer:
*sniff* I'd say this means I have no reason to live, but I guess I didn't really
have a reason to begin with. Godspeed you merry rockers. ~C
From Xian Sheppard, NYC fan of the Canon:
These are sad, sad tidings for the New Millenium...Congrats on the long, strange
trip. (so maybe we can start our Crimson tribute band now?)
then, 10 minutes later:
Ned, As I've already expressed, sorry to hear about PopCanon. Really. But
let's look to the bright future ahead! Any chance you could package-up your
drummer and send him either to me in Baltimore or Marc in D.C.? C.O.D. would
be fine. Thanks! X-ian.
From Tom Summerford:
rock on with your fists raised high and your collar up to keep out the cold.
From Brian Kurtz, erstwhile manager of our mortal enemies The
Pawn Rook Four :
The Bedrock Yellow, Orange, Purple, Lime, and Red..... But to get this fruity
taste, ya gotta trick Ned.
From Amanda Garrigues, well-known
Gville rocker:
Hey y'all.. I can't believe it - but i knew it was coming. I am back from the
NE at the beginning of March...maybe you could do a version of "Truth" at one
of your last shows. uh uh. uh uh. uh uh. uh uh.
From Beth Sommers, who worked on a lot of the PC artwork and helped our
'career' seem more 'professional':
ohmygod...this reminds me of the day that the Dogboy went off the air at 97.7.....I
really dont know what to say. It has been a strange 6 months since I've done
any artwork/stuff for PC...I knew something was missing in my life...thought
it was just Gainesville in general! Since I've moved back home to St Pete in
Oct, I havent been to see any of your shows or even in Gainesville for more
than 20 minutes --tops....even Joel asked how you were all doing...snif snif...he
even asked if I knew when you'd be playing at Borders again so he could bring
his new 13 yr old girlfriend Tess to see his Rock and Roll heros.(how sad is
THAT!!??) His D'art shirt is fading fast since he wears it so much, and it truly
saddens me to know that he can sing all of your songs word for word (has no
friggen clue what the hell you all are talking about, but hey...)...sigh, what
can I say guys, I didnt think that my leaving Gainseville would depress all
of you SO much that you'd have to let go of your dreams of being rock and roll
superstars...oh wait, this isnt about me, is it??? Keep me posted on the date
of the last show in April...as I think it ONLY appropriate and damn fun to request
a song at the final show.....since you havent sung it to me yet....what a way
to go...Beth I hear you callin......snif ...
From Matt Cravey, a fan from way back when:
This kills me. Most of my favorite bands are now broken up. Dead Milkmen in
college, Morphine just a year ago and now this. Good luck in whatever yous guys
do. Some of my best memories of college are at your shows. It rocked being a
hanger on. Sorry I'm going to miss the shows. Just one more reason to not come
into Gainesville. Goodnight kids!
then, later, these lovely reminiscences:
You gotta understand, Kingdom of Idiot Rock is up there with the albums
I listen to all the time. It's up there on top of my CD case. With Johhny Cash
Unchained, Morphine Good, SCOTS Dirt Track Date, the Oh
Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack, and that one Violent Femmes CD that everyone
in the world has. For someone who has moved away from Gainesville, it reminds
me of home. Being out really late, and drinking 75 cent rolling rocks at courthouse
deli, and listening to Tom Miller ramble on drunkenly about whatever, and some
crackhead asking me for a couple of bucks and the smell of those filthy filthy
hippies at Music Harvest. I hear Merimble when I'm driving and I bob
my head with as much as vigor as hearing Punk Rock Girl, Istanbul
not Constantinople, or Smells Like Teen Spirit.
From Lord Litter, German radio DJ/international
star:
Litter...sad. I left/split my band in late 1999 .. so I fully understand what
makes ya do that .. for whatever reason ... but: YOU WILL BE NOT FORGOTTEN!!
I'll defenitely keep your releases as a perfect example for real unique/true/original
music.. they will be with me *for the rest of my life* ... cheerz 'n thanks
for the music!
then, later, this excerpt from his playlist newsletter:
A sad goodbye : Pop Canon announced their split... PopCanon : Impossible
- CD: d'art (no one knew how to describe them..jazzy..rocky..indie..some
reviewer helplessly even defined them as a Ska band..they added a new color
to the expression *unique music* ..I'll miss them!!)
From Alyson's Aunt Deb:
Thanks for the memories...and for opening 'my eyes' to music. I think what you
all did has been great and a real inspiration to moi! Best of the best to all
of you
From Kenny Howes, Atlanta powerpop
king and friend:
If I can make it to the last show, you have to let me sing "Surrender"...
From John Youngman, Mr. Slack Season:
sorry to hear the news but you guys put some quality stuff out. my personal
faves are still valentine's day, give it up for the percussionist and ofcourse
arthole -- that song just rules.
From Mason & Megan Wendell, who are Blinder:
Sob. Megan told me a couple of days ago. We're gonna miss youse guise as a band.
At lease we got you on the comp, tho. So do you have any of that PC underwear
left? I want a souvenir.
From Robert C. Constable, Jr., maestro of Handshake
Squad:
This is the saddest news that I've heard in a while - and I've been hearing
some pretty fucking bad news lately. This is George W. Bush's fault (or at least
I'll feel better blaming it on his ass). I'll definitely come up to hear you
guys play, but god damn it, Handshake Squad will never get to play with you
again? It's like finding out that Santa Claus doesn't exist. I'm just really
really glad that we got to hook up with you all. all my love, Rob
From Eric Wisdahl, the rat-eyed dancer who was there at the beginning:
Hey All, I just writing cause I was wondering if don still has some rat eyepatches....Mine's
about 5 feet long due to the elastic stretching. Also, What color of the punk
rock loser logo would you like...Lime Green, Pink or Blue? Also, you always
say that you haven't practiced the songs that I request soooo maybe you could
practice a few of the ones I'd like to hear before one of your last two shows.
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaze? Eddie's Teddy Paradigm Shift Give it up for the Percussionist
El Gordo I write the songs Alternative Lifestyles (Note: the dogboy theme
song from the save 97x show is not on the list even though you were known to
play it.) See ya at the show.
From Jason Fagone, rocker/journalist/dancing scarecrow from Idiot
Savant Garde:
Well, I've been trying to craft some sort of elegy/eulogy for the PC, but it's
not coming out quite right. Suffice it to say that the first time I saw you
guys was a minor revelation for me, proving that the whole intelligent-and-complex
ethos could be reconciled with humor and rock, and that I could move my body
in ways that couldn't have been revealed to me without Composition: Brainstroll.
I honestly don't think I've had a better time at a show, or playing music, period.
So, thanks, and good luck. Have a great show with Andy on the 16th. [Neditor:
Jason took many
brilliant photos of our bands during our Spring
Tour '00.]
From Allen Ruch, The Great Quail, diehard
PC supporter and purveyor of the brilliant Modern
Word:
Hey Poppies.... Needless to say, it is with great sadness that I read of your
finale. There's not much to say, really, is there? You guys were one of the
best indie bands I have ever heard, on CD or live, and I lament the fact I will
probably never get to see you perform again! But I do feel that I have made
a few friends, and all of you are more then welcome to look me up in New York.
Quail casa su casa. You rocked and ruled and deconstructed up a hellacious storm.
I only hope that God, or maybe Frank Zappa at least, is looking down from heaven
and will grant you another day...I know something of the bittersweet taste you
guys are feeling in your collective mouths, and I am proud that you managed
to still send off a positively-oriented, inspiring Rant & Rave. (I am
also always happy to see the word 'penultimate' used correctly.) So I hope the
last few shows are legendary, and I hope that you will see me there in spirit,
wearing an ill-fitting cow teddy and taking that big backflip into the unknown.
From Greg
Ceton of the Patsies, erstwhile Gainesvillian who helped us mightily during
our Spring East Coast Tour:
Don't tell me that I've said nothing about the endofanera. My tiny, impoverished
segment of the C-PIGS tour was a grand exposure to the six-headed hydra that
was PC live. And I got a swanky pic of my old haus on the web, for me to look
at any time I gets to missing it from my new urban basement digs. Hope you all
got lotsa plans for the future. Pls advise. I know that I shan't be at the last
show, or even the penultimate show, but I know that you'll rock regardless.
Keep those harmonies nailed, tight and inside just like I like 'em. Yeah.
From Lindsay Stidham, a new fan catching the PC wave at the last possible
minute:
I just saw your penultimate performance at Common Grounds and I just wanted
to tell you how much I enjoyed it. You guys have to be one of the most incredible
live bands I have ever seen. Very entertaining. I wish you all the best of luck
with everything.
From Chad Vance, a fan from way back who ordered the limited edition
Some Antiques by the Semantics / PC Covers It Up CD:
Here's some money for 2CD set ... thank you, and as for that email that said
you might throw in something else ... I don't own Kingdom of Idiot Rock
(although I still have the pencil that was released around then!). Just a hint.
Anyway, you guys rock. When I moved to Gainesville August '95, the first show
I saw was Funk Attack (What It Is in disguise), Tin Angel and Planet Ten at
the Orange & Brew, UF. (I still have my free tape from that show.) Since
then I've seen dozens of shows with members of PopCanon (Borders, downtown plaza,
music harvests, Common Grounds ... even a Valentine's Day show where David Hornbuckle
played that song at least 4 times. Sorry to see you disappear... Best PopCanon
quote: 'We'd like to thank GAMA for putting us on THIS stage ... Yeah, THIS
one.' -Music Harvest '97, acoustic stage
then, two weeks later, an email:
I just got my double CD in the mail that I asked for. I hinted at the fact that
I never bought Kingdom of Idiot Rock and you actually included it in
my package!!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!! Thank you to whoever threw in the extra CD
very very much. say... are there any other PC member bands besides Eurotoaster?
You can't stop rocking just because Pop Canon is no more.... A fan
