This is a huge blow to our community. So very sad. My thoughts and warm vibes go out out to his friends and family. What a wonderful note from his brother, it must have been terribly difficult to write. No doubt, the passion and hard work Brad put into his taping will live on. Tapes brought many of us together here and Brad was a kind and generous leader, a pioneer, a machine.
Tapes do more than just record a musical performance. They allow us to re-live over and over an enjoyable road trip to a small club or huge shed far far away or just around the corner; a comically awful interstate meal saved only by a crane machine in the lobby; a new kind friend on a lawn somewhere; a frantic search for that one forgotten audio connector, graciously solved by a fellow taper; a visit to MOMA or South Beach; 2am dinner at a local dive; a well stuffed padded envelope in the mailbox ... and yes, the music, the show, the experience ... an epic 3hr marathon; a singular guitar note; first-heards; clinking glasses; "hey, are you recording this?"; popular songs; weird songs; strange but brilliant one-offs; last shows. Real or vicarious, Brad gave all of this to us.
Rest in Peace, BradM. Thank you.