October 14, 2003
Dear Friends of 20 Minute Loop:

We have been remiss in our communication and hope to resume our affectionate correspondence with all of you.

We are recording a new CD with our fabulous new drummer, Mike "Rattlesnake" Romano. We have given him this nickname primarily because he hates it.

We have two new shows scheduled:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH @ THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL (1233 17th St. @ Missouri in S.F.) With ALASKA (One third of Sebadoh (Russell Pollard) and two thirds of Folk Implosion (Russell Pollard and Imaad Wasif)) & The LILYS. 21+, $10, show starts with Alaska at 10pm, 20ML at 11pm, Lilys at 12pm.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH @ THE STARRY PLOUGH (3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) With BITESIZE and other special guests – times to be announced.

More importantly, we have a brand new CD in the works! It should be out some time early next year. Kelly Atkins, our singer and keyboardist, would like to call it "Rice Canoe", but the rest of us are having a hard time with that title. Do any of you have ideas? Please remit them to our email address.

Our long silence has been due to hardship, turmoil, and exciting change.

First of all, we would like to extend our condolences to Ethan Turner, our former drummer, who quit the band several months ago and will one day come to rue the folly of his decision. Any pain and suffering he might endure in the future when he finally realizes what a terrible mistake he has made is greatly regretted by the remaining members of 20 Minute Loop. We wish him all the best. He is a fine friend, a great drummer, and most of all, a man of many talents—electrician, carpenter, masseur, reflexologist, welder, dowser, big game hunter… He will never lack the means to live. If any of you are ever in need of strut braces, shock tower braces, or battery hold down units for your BMW, he’s your man. He manufactures them all under the aegis of Stiffywerks. He also owns a jet black Chihuahua named Fury who is roughly the size of a stapler. Here is a picture of the little mongrel:

Mike "Ripmaster" Romano is our new drummer. He is a color consultant and Sufi master who currently resides in Yolo County. He is a sweet man, an incredible drummer, and will often whirl himself into trance states until you get sick just looking at him. Mike "Mr. Huge Drum Fill" Romano dazzled us last week with his percussive pyrotechnics when we recorded the basic tracks for our new CD in San Francisco at Closer Recording. At one point during a crucial part of a song, he dramatically shook his headphones off while executing a HUGE drum fill (thus, the nickname), and while the bangs of his shaggy locks hung in his eyes, he smacked a crash cymbal and yelled a naughty word. As if to say, "Who needs a headphone mix?" Our engineer, "Archbishop" Desmond "Tutu" Shea, was utterly astonished by the style and technical virtuosity Mike "I’m Gonna Rock Your Soul" Romano exhibited during the recording. Kelly &My Red Hair Is Aflame" Atkins could only stare agog. Meanwhile, Joe "I’m Part Portuguese-Hawaiian" Ostrowski began to weep at this exceptional moment, and Nils "Who’s to Say I Didn’t Vote for Larry Flynt" Erickson was inspired to greater heights by digging into the bass notes with exponential ferocity. Greg "I’m Gonna Fuck This Part Up" Giles fucked his part up, and they couldn’t use the take.

We can’t tell you or begin to explain how much we have missed all of you. See you soon.

Love,
20ML

The LILYS

ALASKA

BITESIZE

THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL

STARRY PLOUGH

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