It's over.  The final show, which we affectionately dubbed "Last Call for Last Fall", happened last night at the Oakmont Tavern.  It's hard to believe.  While we unanimously agreed that it was probably the best gig we've ever had and had the absolute time of our lives, we're all pretty sad at the same time.  It's hard to put this band in the scrap book.   It was just too much damn fun.  We should have pictures from the final show up on the site within the next few days.  (You can see them here)

We had so many friends come last night that we couldn't even keep track of who all was there.  The support and the love you guys showed us was unbelievable.  We're going to miss all of you very much.  We promise to stay in touch to let you know where each of our musical roads take us next.

To the staff of the Oakmont Tavern, you guys are the best.  We can't thank you enough for how well you treated us over the years.  You can bet whenever we have a reunion show someday, we hope to be able to play it at the Tavern.  Pete, you rock!

This band was something that all of us truly loved.  In the music business it's not very often that you find great musicians to jam with that you enjoy being with off stage as much as you do on stage.  Well that was the case with Last Fall.  We're three musical brothers that were lucky to find each other and keep this machine alive for 5-1/2 years.  It's been an absolute blast the entire time.

We've got some special people we'd like to thank for all of the help and support they've given us over the years.  First of all, we've got to thank the most important people in our lives, our wives, Linda, Sandy and Rhonda for letting us go out and act like kids a couple of times a month.  We've also got to thank the many faces of the Last Fall crew over the years, John Brammell, Gary Giehler, Gavin Eastgate and Ron Anthony.  Without you guys, no one could have seen or heard us so thanks for everything you've done for us.  You guys rock! And of course, we've got to thank Last Fall's #1 fans, "The Fallen People"...Trish, Kara, Paul and at one time, Ed. These guys were at our very first show on March 26, 1999 at Knuckleheads on the South Side. They didn't know us. We didn't know them. They just happened to be at Knuckleheads that night. Well they became the best fans Last Fall ever had, hence the name "The Fallen People". They've attended most of the shows we've played over the last 5-1/2 years. We can't thank you guys enough. You're awesome!

And then there's the Last Fall Arsenal of Guitarists...  First there was Rob Carrick.  Rob's been playing with Harry and Dave T. off and on since he was in ninth grade and he was amazing way back then.  Of course he just got better and better and was our first choice when Last Fall was formed in the summer of 98'  Then came Brady Novotny.  Brady was only with us for a short time but he was a hell of a player.  Then we auditioned this guy named Jeff Marks.  Jeff blew us away so much at the audition that we offered him the gig right on the spot.  Jeff is simply a fantastic guitarist and singer/song writer who can lay down a groove like nobody's business and remains a great friend today.  And thanks for stopping in before the final show Jeff!

Just to make it clear, we're not giving up music or anything crazy like that. We're just taking a break before we try to figure out where we're headed next. Sometime next year, you'll probably see Dave Thomas and Harry Carr out in a club somewhere. Instead of playing in clubs twice per month, Dave O'Block will be playing with a Contemporary Christian band at his church...a very worthwhile endeavor indeed. One thing is for sure, though. Knowing us and how much we love this band, we won't be able to stay away forever! We'll get together every once in a while for a reunion show to party and enjoy music with each other and all of our friends.

So as we go rockin' off into the sunset, don't forget about us.  We'll never forget about you.

Well our last gig at Casa D' Ice in North Versailles was quite the event.  A bunch of great friends came out to party with us, John Brammell, our original soundman, ran sound for us and our long-time friend and former guitarist Jeff Marks and his bandmate Drew Bentley (who together form JD Strum) played a great opening set.  And if that weren't enough, two of our sons, 11 year-old Jonathan Thomas (on Drums) and 11 year-old Sean O'Block (on Bass) even made their public debut by performing a couple of tunes.  It was quite a proud moment for OB and I.  Pictures will be up on the site as soon as we get enough time to get them posted.   Whew...things are really busy right now.  When it rains it pours!

Speaking of pouring, the questions came pouring in after the last email about the Casa D' Ice show was sent out.  Everyone was asking what in the world we were alluding too with this final show stuff.  Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the truth must be told...

Last Fall will cease to exist later this year.  Yeah it's sad but true.  But that's the way things go in the music business and in life.  Things always change.  It's been a great run and I (Dave Thomas) for one can say that the last five years I've had with Last Fall have been some of the best times of my life.  I'm sure I'll get all emotional when the time comes so I'm not going to start now.  Suffice it to say that I think we're all really going to miss this band.

Our final show will be at the Oakmont Tavern on Saturday, December 11th, 2004.  We hope that all of our fans, especially the "Fallen People" who were at our very first show ever on March 26 1999, come out to bid us farewell.

We're still hoping to get a live video shot at one of our final gigs.  It would be a nice keepsake and who knows, maybe a collectors item some day ;-)  Did someone say VH1 Bands Reunited ?