In September of last year, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting The Dodos during Pygmalion Music Festival outside of The Channing Murray. Somehow Chris Reimer stood out. He was kind and patient —don’t get me wrong, the whole band was! — even though I could tell he wasn’t thrilled about having his photo taken. When we finished, he shook my hand warmly and gave me a huge thanks, a gesture that stuck with me.
Later that night, I returned to the venue to watch The Dodos perform, and their set completely blew me away. The energy was electric yet effortless, and Chris’s playing added so much texture and life to the music. You could feel his energy radiating through the music, not in an overpowering way, but in a way that pulled everything together. Watching him on stage, you could see his focus and joy, and it was one of those performances that stays with you long after a performance ends.
This morning, I learned that he passed away yesterday. My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and bandmates, Meric Long (center) + Logan Kroeber (left). It is always heartbreaking when the music world loses someone so humble, young, and immensely talented.
