The Final Word.
For a couple weeks now we have made mention of a final show and the ending of Venona and I thought it time to put it to rest. I apologize for the confusion and mystery of it all, we always like to be very open but we just wanted to make sure some things were in order before we announced anything. I hope that you can forgive us. In a little over a month, Venona will be disbanding indefinitely. Now, please know that not only was this planned, but that it is mutual. Simply, Venona can’t operate in the same context that it has these past 3 to 4 years. All of us are now at a point where our lives are taking us in completely different directions and I could not be more happy or proud of these guys. Bill, who is a member of the Air Force, will be shipping off to Afghanistan soon after our final show to serve our country. Justin is currently a student at the University at Buffalo pursuing a degree in Psychology and minor in Music. Lance and Al, who both go to Buffalo State for Criminal Justice, will be continuing their studies and pursuing their careers as well. I , Mike, will be studying acting at Rutgers in New Jersey for the next three years. Obviously, I can’t speak of what the future will hold, but musically this will most certainly not be the end in our individual lives. However, for Venona as a group, it will be. Now I know it seems counterintuitive to announce our break up soon after announcing the release of our debut album, so please allow me to explain. I also know that as a band we have broken up, gone on hiatus, stopping making music, what have you, some 30 times now but I assure you, this is it. For the past two years we have been writing and recording our first full length. It has most certainly been a love to hate, hate to love relationship, the bane of our existence as well as one of the best things we have all been a part of. In the fallout of many missed opportunities and unfortunate happenings both in our professional and individual lives, the only thing that has kept us together and lead us to this point was both our friendship and the music we have made together. As all of those who take that first and unnerving step off their door step know, it’s a tough world out there and things very rarely work out the way you planned. But it is in that exploration outside of your comfort zone that the greatest discoveries are made, the most important being that it is truly not the destination that matters, but rather the journey. So how does all this preaching relate to Venona’s album? I’m about to tell you. About a year and a half ago, we came to a place where we just all unanimously decided to let go of any fears and/or uncertainties and just do exactly what we wanted. For us, that was making the music we wanted to make without the influence of anyone or anything outside of our cozy little group of five. It meant no further additions to the band, no deadlines or a specific set of time, and only answering to each other. This CD is the product of that. For me personally, and for the group, it gave us a chance to say the things we wanted to say and in the context that we wanted to say them. It allowed us to explore, to push, to story tell, to present, but most importantly, to relate. While this CD is based off of this very expansive and sprawling story, the ideas, opinions, and events expressed in this album are all influenced by reality and real happenings. At the end of the day, I wanted to make sure people could listen to these tracks and find personal meaning within them. For music, just as is with all forms of art is communication, and far too important a medium to just create carelessly. Regardless of the work we’ve done, this is all for you. Remember that. The simple truth is we knew this day would come. We just couldn’t stand the thought of not sharing what we have made with any of those willing to listen. Please, let it not be another tree in the forest, left to a fate similar to thousands of those before it and falling without a sound. By reading this alone you have already completed a task that I could not thank you enough for. So in the event that you find Pangea and the Earth Machine in your hands, on your computer, or in the stereo of your car, do me just one more favor: share it with somebody. We would be forever grateful, and somewhere down the road I’ll buy you a beer and we’ll talk until we can’t remember why it is we started. Thank you for all your support, truly, deeply, and sincerely. We hope to see you all at our final show on the 14th of May, 2011. Lance, Al, Bill, Mike, and Justin.
