I remember walking around the cold (just as I like them) streets of San Francisco on a day that seemed extraordinary focused and bright. It was May and the winds coming in from the harbor didn’t allow any passerby, tourist or local, to have them be avoided. This elaborate wind caused the birds to fly in choreographed semi-circles and somehow heightened the senses. 

Walking around the different piers, I had on The Dears exquisite and underrated masterpiece, “No Cities Left”. Now I knew that it would provide me a good soundtrack throughout my trek with no real destination but little was I aware that it would be the perfect listening experience. I had listened to the album countless times before and was aware, as I am now, of every single note, melody, change in rhythm, but no other time before had the music seeped into my being like that time walking around, headphones on, my hoodie barely keeping my exposed ears warm.

As this song, “The Second Part”, began playing, I had to take a moment to contemplate the fact that what I was currently experiencing, as I was well aware, was going to be a everlasting moment of awe, the kind of thing that doesn’t come often but when it does; oh brother….you wish it wouldn’t flee.

 So as you can see, this composition means volumes to your humble narrator, not necessarily for that time walking the cold, windy streets of the City by the Bay, but also for what this band has come to represent to me and my fellow comrades. We’ve traveled miles and given up common sense and sleep to see them play and will continue to do so because, well, these will be the things that we shall remember on our dying day. I leave you with the man, his guitar and nothing else.