Tom Russell on Letterman last night - where's Andrew Hardin?

[Backwater Under_Duck]

There has to be some Tom Russell fans on board. And if you are, you're a big fan of Andrew Hardin. In fact, you might be a fan of Hardin and not even like Tom Russell. Hint: Hardin plays guitar. Like a "ring in a bell, " don't you know.
Tom was on Letterman last night promoting his newest album. I saw him do that song at McCabes in Santa Monica last month. It's a good, typical Russell song - starts out with the imagry of a poor Mexican getting electrocuted trying to steal electricity from a utility pole and segues into as close as Russell is capable of writing a love song. I know. Like I said, very typical Tom Russell song.
Anyway, Andrew Hardin wasn't with him at McCabes, either. Tom didn't say much, but indicated that Hardin was pretty sick - possible recovering. That's it. Does anybody have any idea what happened to him. The guy playing guitar with him has been filling in for a while, I guess. He is a fairly good picker, but he's no Andrew Hardin.
I hope this doesn't fall on deaf ears. I really would like to find out. Their web sites say nada.
Anybody???

[beowulf573]

He was sick, and missed the show I saw this weekend. Tom Russell didn't say what he had, but didn't make it out to be anything serious.

[beowulf573]

*sigh* that's what I get for skimming posts. Sorry, don't know more than you already do.

[Moe]

I'm actually not familar with either of them, but I just noticed earlier today that they're scheduled to perform this Sunday at the University I work at. I work with the guy who operates the venue so I'll ask him. Incidentally, both names are on the bill.

[Moe]

I just checked his website (http://www.tomrussell.com/index_flash.html).

I think I found your answer:


I'm happy to say that Andrew Hardin is on the way to full recovery from his stomach operation in January. Andrew wished, back then, to keep everything quiet so he could heal. I know a lot of people were wondering where he disappeared to . . . he'll be fine. There was a great article about his playing in "Acoustic Guitar" a month or two ago.

He and I talked recently and we've agreed that we're both moving on, in different directions. I'll continue to be a fan of his incredible playing and I know he'll be kicking ass in whatever manner of music he wishes to pursue.

You can check with him through his web site www.andrewhardin.com

--Tom Russell, 4/12/06

[jacquilynne]

I've been listening to Russell's album the last few days, and I have to say, Stealing Electricity has to be the bizarrest concept for a song I've come across in recent memory. It's a love song, in which he compares the patter of your heart to that of a poor Mexican who dies of electrocution while trying to steal a power line.

Umm.

Yeah.

I'm not even kidding about that.

How is that not utterly offensively grotesque?