Andy Hull Reflects 2007

Singer/Songwriter of Atlanta Indie band Manchester Orchestra reflects on 2007. Read it below.

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"i am going to make it through this year... if it kills me"

As we wrap up the last few shows of our tour here in the UK and for the entire year, i am overwhelmed with a sense of fulfillment. when our band looked at 2007 we made ourselves a promise, and that promise was to play 250 shows this year. Oddly looking up now, we have (somehow) done it. I think when we made that challenge to ourselves we had absolutely NO idea how much of a difficult, challenging, growing, and incredible experience it would actually be. We had no idea how many unbelievable people and friends we would meet along the way. How many new brothers and sisters we would meet that we will know until we die. We had no idea how close the friends inside of the band we would become. I am in no way saying we know it all now, but man we have learned allot. I guess the reason i am writing this is for closure's sake. When we saved up every dollar we had and recorded 11 songs in a pretty descent studio (until the money ran out) all the way to our friends basement we had no idea that this kind of thing would happen. I realize we haven't achieved world dominating status and to be honest we are perfectly fine with that. What i do know is that we have achieved more with this record than we ever thought possible, and more people have heard it than we ever thought would. That for me is enough to be proud of for the rest of my life. Oh but none of the glory should shine on our heads... we have so many to thank, so many that showed us the way to be a band, taught us things we never knew. its because of these people that we are able to play music. so for each band that let us share the stage with them this year...bn, kd, cr, mwy, kol, brmc, sa, std, scc, piebald, anathallo, annuals, the never, the new frontiers, and many many more... thank you, we are so thankful for you.

It is also almost all because of another group of people as well... you. everybody from you who have downloaded our record for free to those who helped hang up fliers for our show in your town... it is because of you that we are humbled with our faces on the floor in thanks. you are so kind... more than we ever deserve. thank you thank you thank you. as everybody goes into the holidays my prayer for you is that your time with family, friends, or even just time spent alone is filled with love and joyfulness. 2007 has been an unthinkably incredible year... only one can imagine what 2008 has in store...

see you then. god bless. and merry x-mas.

thanks. andy