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Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
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Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
Saturday Thanks Don't End At Thanksgiving Photo: November 28, 2009
Middle Distance Runner has long been one of DCist's favorite local bands. They've been a Three Stars subject, an Unbuckled band, Unbuckled DJs, interview subjects countless times, recipe contributors and more to the site. And our main source of blog-space enjoyment always came from the wacky and wonderful Mr. Ian Glinka, the band's bassist. Through a note on MySpace this weekend, he announced that he's leaving the band.
We talked with Ian this afternoon about his decision to leave. He's moving home to Pittsburgh, where he's got a great opportunity with his current job. About his future music plans, he said, "It's just a great situation 'cause this gives me the time, space, money to set up shop, record, and then at some point, go out and try it all over again, knowing what I know now. But being able to kind of play by my own rules." And don't worry; you'll still see him in D.C. every now and again, as he'll be back here for work once a month. The rest of the band is sad to see him go, but will still be bringing catchy indie rock to a club near you for the foreseeable future. The full formal (and pretty funny) announcements from both Ian and the band are after the jump.
Photo by Kyle Gustafson
A Message from Ian Glinka...Hey, everybody.
I'm done. I quit the band. I'm out. Gone. Not in Middle Distance Runner anymore. Goodbye and such...To make a long and mostly uninteresting story short and entirely uninteresting: It's been a real hoot, but it's time to move on.
THANK YOU so much for supporting the band over the years, and thank you in advance for continuing aforementioned support. We wouldn't have been motivated to do half the things we did without you all being there with us along the way to inflate our egos. Keep it up. These guys deserve it. Steve, Allan, Erik and Jay are great musicians, and they should be entitled to a portion of your bank balance because of it.
Keep buying our old stuff, too, though, because I think I get royalties on it!! Ka-ching!
Actually, I'm not sure. I dunno. I guess I'll have to go back and finally read all those contracts that I've signed over the past two years. Who knows... maybe I can sue like all the ex-members of Oasis did.
...Yeah!
See you in court, MDR!
xoxo
Ian
*********************************************
A Retort from Middle Distance Runner...Dear Everyone,
You've heard by now that our furry and beloved bass player, Ian Glinka, has decided to leave the band.
Now, there's been talk of legal battles and the like, but we've dug up ONE legally binding contract Ian will wish he'd never signed:
Jokes aside, Ian has been a huge part of the band throughout the years and without him we couldn't have done nearly as much as we have. When he joined the band in 2006, he brought enthusiasm and energy that has given us the confidence to do what we've been able to do. His efforts to get our music to as many people as possible have been entirely responsible for our past successes, and have given us a model to follow in the future. We're going to carry on recording our new full-length, but it will definitely be strange without him there...
Besides being a good bandmate, Ian is one fifth of the tightest group of friends in Washington, DC. We all love him and wish him the best.
So if you see Ian around, hurry up and buy him a drink. He's only here for about another week, and he sure as hell isn't getting any more checks from Middle Distance Runner, LLC.
Fondly,
Middle Distance Runner, LLCPS - Hey Ian, POOP4! See you at the "I Quit" match!
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As Pittsburgh does not currently host a marathon I expect that he will remain a middle distance runner for some time.
Actually, the Pittsburgh Marathon will be held again in 2009, so maybe he can move up to that level of competition.