It should come as no surprise that the #1 event of the year is the chang eup in band personnel. As we reported in May <a href="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/2009/03/17/do-i-dare-to-eat-a-peach/">Bryan Dondero left the band</a>. The ultimate reasons for his departure remain personal and, I'm sure, still somewhat painful. I'll say again what I said then. 

<blockquote>Over a year and a half of “knowing” Bryan – virtually in the beginning and then in the real world I was always struck by how decent he was. A decent person. That word isn’t used so often any more and has somewhat lost its meaning over time but I think that Bryan epitomizes what the word decent was supposed to mean.</blockquote>

After a few show cancellations a new band <a href="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/2009/03/29/were-opening-for-a-bunch-of-kids/">hit the stage in late March</a> for a concert that was later included in a Woodstock documentary. I think I'll always remember standing outside the venue as Matt drove up in his pickup with Cat in the passenger seat. She was there on an hastily arranged "audition" for a concert that the band did not want to cancel. Benny, who had been making frequent sit ins with the band, also hit the stage that evening. The mini-concert, even though it was just cover tunes, was awesome. "Try" and "White Rabbit" both found their way into the bands permanent rotation. Check out the videos below and remember that Cat was on stage with the bande for the first time that night - the groove is obvious - and I'm blessed to have attended the show.

"Try"
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"White Rabbit/Woodstock"
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Still, it was almost two months later before <a href="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/2009/05/27/catherine-popper-to-join-grace-potter-and-the-nocturnals/">Cat</a> and <a href="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/2009/05/27/benny-yurco-to-join-grace-potter-and-the-nocturnals/">Benny</a> were officially announced as new members of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

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"Strange Vine" - Delta Spirit
It's such a strange vine wrapped around my neck
All twisted up between my steps, between my steps
I'm tripping and falling over things we just couldn't get over
I tried my best to get it off my chest

Songs we never wrote
Seeds they wouldn't sow
We're taking it all to the end
And we're planting our own garden

The sun came while you were shining
The tide flew when we were writing a symphony in the key of D
Songs that had lost their luster
Finally they found their color

Songs we never wrote
Seeds they wouldn't sow
We're taking it all to the end
And we're planting our own garden