themachinelive.com

Hey Neil, I knew this was coming for a while now. Of course I am sad to see you go, but I completely understand your decision. It has truly been an honor to see you perform with the Machine. I look forward to checking out your future Nail gigs.

I wish you the best out there. I hope you accomplish everything that you want to. And if the situation presents itself, maybe the occasional guest appearance with TM wouldn't be too distracting.

Thanks for all the fun, Neil and I hope to see you again.

--Tim B.

neil will be missed.

Hey All -
You've read my statement, I think that sez it all. Except - I'll miss you, the fans, as well. I hope you'll keep in touch. Feel free to communicate with me anytime on the message board at nailmusic.com.

Don't fret - the Machine's gonna be better than ever. And I think you can count on an occasional guest appearance - that is, if they'll let me on stage!

Be well, y'all -

Thanks for all the years, effort, etc...

Maxxx

aww i'm gonna miss you neil, you already know that becuase i've told you so many times.
i'm glad you still have myspace =)

thanks Neil!!!

I still remember that sinking feeling I got in my stomach when I first read on the Nail site about Neil's plans to leave The Machine... the four of them are magic together and I was afraid that without any one of them it wouldn't be the same. But since then I've snapped out of "selfish fan mode" as I call it and remembered that Neil is an individual with his own dreams and goals, and I totally understand his decision. And I think he's calmed any fears I had about his replacement too.

Neil, I admire you for pushing yourself to reach your goals and dreams. There is a great motivational speaker named Mike Rayburn... he's a classically trained guitarist, also very comical, and his main message is about taking a step beyond what's comfortable and challenging yourself. If you have a chance, check out his promo video at http://mikerayburn.com/spk_bio.shtml (click at the bottom of the page)... it's 12 1/2 minutes long, but well worth it for the laughs and motivation, plus he's a good guitarist. A friend of mine recorded his whole show a couple years ago at a real estate convention in Vegas, which is how I heard about him, and ever since then I've tried to spread the word that if anyone ever has the chance to see him don't miss it, or suggest him to your employer or college because he usually speaks for businesses, universities, etc. Anyway...

I happen to be going to The Machine's last show with Neil on 9/23 in Burlington VT, so I feel sort of priviledged. I'm also going to the 10/6 Penn's Peak show, which I thought would be their first show with the new keyboardist, but now I see from the schedules on MySpace and JamBase that there's one show in between there in Maine (it's missing from this site's schedule). Is anyone else here going to the Burlington or Penn's Peak shows? How about Harrisburg on 11/22? I'll be there too.

Well Neil, I hope I get to meet you in Burlington... besides being a great musician, you're such a nice person. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my private messages. I wish you well with Nail, and even though jazz isn't my thing, I'll drop by the Nail forum to say hi once in a while.

--Vik

Neil,

All the best to you on continuing your life's journey, I feel sure that God's got big plans for you going forward! You will be sorely missed and everyone knows your shoes will be really tough to fill -- I want to fly back to a NY gig one day for one of your guest appearances!

Cheers to you!
Deirdre

Wow Neil

I firmly believe that you can't make a mistake when you listen to your gut --- we always, always know where we need to go, where we should land. This is both sad and great news...but mostly great.

I wish you so much luck.

Debbie

Wow, this is getting to be a serious thread....what else can I say?
You guys/gals are the best.

Thanks so much, everyone!

Nail, I knew the day was coming and I'm selfishly sorry to see you go, but I completely understand and am happy to see you become Alone At Last. You have given me many great memories with your performances through the years, and I've always appreciated the nod of acknowledgement you'd send me whenever you'd see me during those first songs of the first sets. I remember posting how you went out in a "blaze of glory" at a Chance show some years ago when you almost went solo. In particular, it was the way you did Pigs that night - it was incredible! I wish I could be at the Vt show to see you do that again, but I'll be traveling and can't make your last show I am glad to hear you speak of a possible "guest appearance" sometime, because that would be a fun show and vintage Machine as I know it from the past 10 years (my first show, somehwere near Nyack, was a Thanksgiving night in 1995, and I was watching it with a friend that was auditioning for the keyboard role that you were about to win!).

Best wishes, good luck, and I'll be hell Bent on catching some of your Nail shows, as you are definitely Galvanized as one of my all-time favorite musicians!

SHINE ON and ON and THANK YOU!!!!
Mike

i have countless favorite neil memories. I don't want this to turn into a "eulogy" thread if you know what i mean. I have seen the band countless times, and a few stick out. The second to last time i saw the band in sayerville neil was just going nuts during Echoes, and joe turned to neil to make sure everything was "alright". He asked, "Is that you?" and neil just gave him a nod, almost saying I am in total control. My other favorite neil memory, and this happens at every show, but it made me chuckle each time he did it. When joe would introduce the band. We've all seen him do it. You know, when he turns to the crowd, puts his hands together and bows, like the ninja master that he is. Priceless. anybody got any favorite neil/band moments?

Nail,

All the best!! Don't ever stop chasing your dreams!
Thank you for all the years of putting your heart and soul into The Machine. You will be missed!!

SAD TO SEE YOU LEAVE, BUT UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY.

I AM LOOKING AT IT AS A STOCK SPLIT. SOON BOTH MUSIC
ENDEAVORS WILL BE GROWING AND CHANGE IS GOOD.

I ADMIRE HOW DIGNIFIED, RESPECTFUL AND CONCERNED YOU
GUYS APPEAR TO BE. ITS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY AT EVERY SHOW
I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. TOO BAD YOU DONT SEE IT MORE OFTEN WITH
OTHER BANDS/GOVERMENTS/PEOPLE.

ANYWAY NAILS, YOU WONT NEED ANY LUCK, YOU GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! SEE YOU SOON. THANKS FOR THE MACHINE MEMORIES.

a "stock split"
this reference has made my day

joe the guitar player

DIVIDENDS TOBE PAID THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!

SEE YOU THERE BROTHER