Providentially, Charlie needed no coaxing. The next day, after a drum tracking session, Charlie brought up the compilation with Michael - he had listened to it, loved it, and wanted to help "if you ever, you know, need a drummer." Charlie's bandmate, Dave Molnar, happened to just enter the room. Overhearing, he spoke up: "I can play guitar or bass, if you want."

As Michael wrote to Gabe that evening, "I didn't know what to say other than 'yes, of course, as soon as things come together a bit more. Think this summer, maybe,' to which Dave replied, 'Even before summer, really. I'm ready now.'"

Charlie and Dave were competent, indefatigable musicians, raised on classic rock but steeped in academics. Michael had worked with them once before — a gig landed, he claims, through his "ability to perform the solo shriek in Pink Floyd's 'Careful with that Axe, Eugene'" — and knew well of their abilities. In his sign-off to Gabe, after delivering the news, he wrote, "If there's some time and material, in the not-so-distant future…yes. Full band playing nice songs."