Thank you. No, make that a thousand thank yous to all the incredible people who came out to support Sedona last night. The band members are basking in the afterglow of an unforgettable night spent surrounded by amazing friends, some of whom we haven't seen in too many years. It was a mind-blowing experience, reminiscent of that scene at the end of Titanic, where Kate Winslet walks into a room of smiling, supportive friends she's been too long away from. In our case, we were welcomed by folks who had driven the long drive out to Orangevale, paid a hefty admission, and stood around in a dark, hot nightclub late into the evening to show their friendship and support. We simply can't tell you how much that meant to us. Our only regret was not being able to spend more time with each of you.
It's folly to try and thank everyone by name. Inevitably, someone important gets inadvertently left out. But allow us to try and thank some of those who played a role in last night's success:
- To everyone who got up early and spent a long day at work, yet still stuck it out until the last note had been played. And the folks who hired a baby sitter, or drove a long way braving Friday traffic, or made other sacrifices to be with us last night. Please know how deeply we appreciate that.
- To Marcy Rosenzweig Leavitt and the Del Campo Class of '83 alumni that spent their all-too precious time with us at the Boardwalk last night. It was Marcy who got the ball rolling to bring Sedona out of our self-imposed hiatus in the first place.
- To Uve and Kelley Dahmen for the pre-show party, where we were able to gather ourselves for a moment before storming the stage. To Darrel Baker of Automotive Unlimited for the after-hours party, giving us a place to connect with some friends without having to shout above the din. And to Jean and Alisha Fox for providing sustenance and libations for our post-concert enjoyment.
- To the people in attendance who've played crucial roles in Sedona's long and storied career, like Kenny Nicholson of Shire Road Pub fame, who gave Sedona our first shot; Ralph Stover, engineer extraordinaire on Sedona's Dragonfly album; and Pat Townsley, manager of New George's in Marin where many high-profile Sedona gigs occurred. How great it was to be under the same roof with you all again.
- To our faithful friends from far away who regularly express their support and encouragement via Facebook or personal messages. We wish you could have joined us last night. Just because you're not in the room doesn't mean you're not in our hearts.
- To our hard-working crew: Bradly Kent, Dan Ferris, Rich Will, Tom and Amber McDonald, and soundman Claude. Thank you for the professionalism and dedication you show to our band. You are the oil in the Sedona machine that keeps us running smoothly. And to Mark Earl, owner of the Boardwalk, who always leaves the welcome mat out for Sedona, giving us a home to return to.
Here's to the next chapter of the Sedona story, and to each and every one of you continuing to be a part of it. You mean more to us than we could ever hope to express.
-Ray, Mike, Mark and Darrell
