two years ago on his birthday, davelybob unexpectedly had to put down his dog after a sudden turn in health. last year on his birthday (the big four oh), he was at the hospital with his wife, who was recovering from brain surgery. this year covid quarantine began just a week or so before his birthday. determined to make some goddamn lemonade, he booked himself a birthday concert with some of his favorite acts nationwide on facebook live, one of the very first online fests to pop up during the pandemic.

if you didn't catch ali naeini playing his santoor (persian hammered dulcimer) when he lived in st louis, well that's your bad, dumbass- we tried to tell you! he was already a regular performer at festival of nations when he befriended davelybob at their day job. We quickly booked him on a way out weirdo wednesday, and everyone went wild for him. collaborations with percussionists drew gowran and alberto patino followed, and prior to his move to san francisco, he was toying with ideas for a fusion band blending rock and several global traditional musics, which he was jamming out with some members of the st. louis symphony orchestra. in an alternate universe somewhere, you are all going ape shit over that right now.

ali is dedicated to his instrument in a way that in our long careers we have rarely seen, and obscenely modest about his immense talent. he's got a wicked sense of humor too.

thank you for playing my birthday party ali! we love you and miss you! let's talk soon, i have some ideas.