It's not like there are two separate groups. The overlap of people who are BOTH Mudcatters and FSGW people has always been high. And it keeps growing, as more and more FSGW members discover and sign on to the Mudcat,and as Mudcatters (both local and distant) wind up joining FSGW. The number of locals on Mudcat is mind-boggling--I remember blowing some out-of-towner's mind this weekend when I explained that although Fortunato lives only a couple of miles from me, there are more than a dozen Mudcatters who live closer. (Although Max informs me that Hull, England is starting to catch up in density of Mudcatters per square mile.)

The DC-area locals have invited their out-of-town friends since time immemorial--certainly before the Internet, and Mudcat simply made that process more efficient. The locals enjoy out-of-towners--it gives us new perspectives, new songs, new styles, new faces (and fresh people to inflict our same-old same-old upon). Thanks to all of the out-of-towners (both Mudcatters and non) for coming!

--Charlie Baum