What was lacking through all this was a real band. At the center of every session were Gabe and Michael, period. Other members came and went without significant investments in either the group or the music. In a conversation between the two in February 2002, Michael confessed, "If everybody is interested in bringing things to the table and making songs their own, I'm game for more Concord." Jonn, pursuing his undergraduate but across town, could be relied on. What else was needed? A bassist and a drummer, they decided.

One name that came up — Charlie Druesedow — drummed for a band whose album Michael had recently been hired to record. He might be perfect, "Assuming we could coax Charlie into playing," Gabe mused.