They've been a band of the day before, and they are again! They are Gentle Readers and they are back in because I've been listening to their music obsessively the last few days. They make me feel better on these universally lousy days lately. Hearing Susan Fitzsimmons' voice in my ears gives me the temporary illusion that someone sympathetic is here that cares. Of all the musicians I've chatted with or e-mailed lately (and I'm a fanboy, so this list includes Amy Ray, Emily Saliers, Josh Joplin, Sonia Tetlow, Tift Merrit, Michelle Malone, Paul Melancon), Susan is the one I most wish I could buy dinner and talk to for a while. I briefly met her buying CDs at the Susi French Connection show and wished I could have talked to her longer. She's missed her calling (one of them at least) as a therapist - I suspect that she's someone that people naturally open up to. Anyway, I love their music and they are much closer to the mainstream than a lot of my picks on here. They wouldn't be out of place between the Eagles and Steely Dan on commercial radio, they just aren't there.