In Loving Memory of Bill Doss

Photo: Mike White

I debated whether or not to even post about this. I worried that I wouldn't be able to express my feelings in an eloquent enough way to avoid sounding trite, since I realize so many close friends and family members were much more personally affected by this than myself.  I think I've finally found a feelings to words translation that I feel comfortable sharing.

A few weeks ago, one of our clients and friends, Bill Doss of The Olivia Tremor Control, passed away.

The publicist who is usually the lead contact for the Olivias was out of town, and I found myself steering the ship as my phone rang and inbox filled up with inquiries from all of the major national publications wanting to know more and pay their respects in writing. We had just been in Chicago with them for Pitchfork Fest. They played our company's anniversary days before.  It all felt surreal and like it wasn't actually happening. Still does.

It's been such a sad time, but there's been such an inspiring and overwhelming air around town of trying your best to be positive and letting everyone around you know how much you love and appreciate them. The memorial was a sad but strangely beautiful deluge of tears and hugs. I felt so grateful to know so many wonderful people, and I fell asleep that night replaying the day, and one by one saying thank you for each of the people I encountered.

Last week I sent a message to a friend of mine letting him know how much his music meant to me in the years before I knew him, and still means to me now. I realized that I don't do that enough. For a long time, I think I felt like the line between fan and friend was something to dance around carefully. This month made me realize that's silly. Tell people how much you love them, and tell them how much you love the things they make. I can't believe I ever subconsciously thought there was any reason to not gush with positivity and gratitude.

The memorial was such a blur of sadness and love and music-making that now I can't remember if someone actually said this, or if a few people half-said this, or if I'm projecting my own feelings into this, but this statement has been bouncing around my head ever since:

The Beatles (one of Bill's favorites) opened up a generation of weirdo kids so that bands like Olivia Tremor Control could exist. Olivia Tremor Control was that band that opened up the minds of the next generation of weirdo music makers, and Bill was their George Harrison.

All my love to the Olivias, my E6 friends, and everyone else that I'm lucky enough to know.