There were several reasons we (as in me, P.B., and my co-architect in this TLBAS business Charlie Hall) were hesitant to get the band back together, as it were.

Tony and Sam Goddess (without their involvement, the 2010 TUSK shows never would’ve materialized) weren’t available for this go-round. Neither was bassman and TLBAS breakout star Dave Hartley, currently touring the world and elsewhere with The War on Drugs, when he’s not doing the same with his Nightlands thing.

There was also the inclination to just leave things where they were. Those TUSK shows were such unbelievable, way-beyond-our-wildest-dreams fun. What if we regrouped and the mojo wasn’t there? You know what Sade said, ‘Never as good as the first time.’ Definitely something to that…

Happy to report that we (as in Charlie, our songbird/tambourine lady/peppermint oil peddler Birdie Busch, and yours truly) regrouped with new members Eliza Hardy Jones, Brandon Beaver, and Dave Wayne Daniels and found some new mojo; had plenty more unbelievable, way-beyond-our-wildest-dreams fun playing the MIRAGE album top-to-bottom (and more).

From the bottom of our hearts, a huge thank you to everyone who attended the MIRAGE (and more) shows in Philly and Brooklyn. Kicking this little thing off on our home turf in Philly was a little nerve-rattling but also quite exciting. Brooklyn? What can we say. You people were absolutely, 100 percent fucking nuts. Especially the blonde gal down front who yelled out (paraphrasing): ‘If I was wearing underwear, I’d throw them at you,’ who I’m fairly certain was also the same person who yelled out ‘So, who’s boning who?’ (answer: no one).

Wish we were doing some more shows, but those two dates are all that’s in the cards at the present time.

As for the future? Personally, I’d love to do this thing as much as possible. I’d love for this thing to rock a party or booze cruise or wedding for a super Mac fan (ALL REASONABLE OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED - ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS). As to not get totally depressed when we wrap up a given project, I’m beginning to look at TLBAS like a very boutique pop-up store. It’ll appear sporadically, and appeal to a fairly select though quite rabid group of folks. I can totally live with that.

If you attended the MIRAGE (and more) shows and have pix/video/recollections, feel free to share here, on Twitter, and Facebook.

‘Til we meet again…

-pb, 2/20/12, philadelphia, pa.