A million thanks for all who came out and celebrated the unprecedented five-show marathon at the Bowery Ballroom with Sufjan Stevens and the Illinoisemakers. We hope that beyond all the drills and thrills and gimmicks and cheerleader routines, your heart was met with extraordinary changes.

Congratulations to Kitty St. Marie and Craig Hecht who were crowned Homecoming Queen and King. It was NOT a fixed election, as has been reported in Nick Sylvester’s generous, imaginative review.  Sufjan’s bass player is, in fact, 100 percent genetic engineering.

A hundred thanks to all AK bands who did their very very best on stage (Castanets, Half-handed Cloud, Bunky, and Liz Janes), and also to Smoosh and Feathers, for clapping, singing, dancing, and rock-n-rolling with us. A trillion thanks to the Danielson Famile for showing us how it’s done. And all gratefulness to the staff at the Bowery for making us ALL feel like Homecoming Queens. Deep inside, we are royalty.