The Last Samurai.jpg, originally uploaded by AE Paterra.

so i met A.E. Paterra over a year ago, when i opened for Gil Mantera's Party Dream and he was introduced to me as their new drummer. "we stole him from a band called Zombi," Ultimate Donny told the crowd.

my dumb ass assumed Zombi was probably some shitty pittsburgh (or even youngstown)* band, friends with GMPD and Paterra was pitching in on drums live. wrong.

fast forward to a couple-few days ago, my associate The Librarian asked via instant message whether i'd heard "Sapphire" by Zombi, which he'd bought to play that night in his set at Pris. i hadn't, and in fact did not at first even remember Paterra's Zombi, though that changed by the end of the track, which was excellent synthy rock (imagine Kavinsky or Moroder, but prog). something about the feel of it grabbed me like GMPD did, and i started putting 2 and 2 together.

so sorry Tony, if you read this. everyone else, go check them shits out. don't be like me.

[*] nothing against those towns. i think the same thing about this town too.