I'm hanging out with a group of people that includes Tim and Neil Finn. They ask me if I really played all the instruments on my recordings. I'm surprised that they even know that I have recordings, and I answer kind of awkwardly that, for example, my brother Joe and I played all the instruments on the latest material. They kind of have a problem with that, objecting that it is illegal in Russia , I think due to putting other instrumentalists out of work.

That's all the attention I get from them, but I want to ask them about the real economics of the music business.

We're at my parents', and Neil is upstairs in the old "TV room", watching a video created by my brothers. It's nearly dawn, and I thought they wanted to go down to the ponds, so I mention it and Neil gets up. I try to ask him about economics, trying to make it sound easy, as I know it'll sound like a difficult conversation, but what I'm asking for is much simpler. I just want to know what they make most of their money on and what kind of living it is. But he seems disinterested, and he has to go somewhere. I say that we don't have to talk right now, I'm not expecting much and a few sentences on email should suffice, but he gives no answer.

I try to find a business card to give him, but I don't have one. I write my email address on a piece of paper, but he's already gone. There is a small bus leaving from a downtown curb, and I recognize the male-pattern baldness of one of the band members as it takes off, so I know they're aboard.

I still think maybe I can email him. I remember, I think his address was neil at neilfinn dot com.