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I spent a subdued weekend thinking a lot about a recently departed friend, Cy Rawls, whose funeral is today in Jacksonville. If you come around here much, you've no doubt read about him. And if you've gone to local-band shows with any regularity over the last decade, you probably recognize him. I wouldn't say I knew him well. But I'm not sure too many people did.

Most of our interactions consisted of shouted conversations in loud places with a band blaring in the background, plus the occasional interview about this or that. Since he was everywhere and seemed to know everyone, he was a good person to keep in touch with -- even though he wasn't the best quote source. He was just such a sweetheart that I never heard him utter an unkind word about anyone, even people who deserved it.

"Cy," I told him once, "you're just too danged reasonable." His only response was to grin, and shrug.

He seemed content to go his own mysterious way, appearing and disappearing without calling much attention to himself. But in his quiet, unassuming way, he was a star. Because, for all the attention that bands get, those of us on the other side of the stage also have an important role to play -- bearing witness, and supporting the efforts of those who get up there to do it. As Chapel Hill's ubur-fan, Rawls played that role better than anybody.

You get back what you put into the world. That seems like a cruel thing to say about someone who dies at age 33. Yet it applies to Rawls. The very small silver lining of this tragedy is that his friends had a chance to let him know how they felt. And it's still going on. All you have to do is read the tributes his friends are leaving to know how much he was loved and appreciated.

Over the last few months, the local music community came together in a show of support that was inspiring and overwhelming. That's what's worth remembering -- and also how much he did to earn that respect.

...when you can take care of your time-keeping needs like this?

(Thanks, Bob.)

A month ago, things seemed promising for beloved local-scene fixture Cy Rawls in his battle against a brain tumor. But now... Well, the situation has taken a serious turn for the worse. He's back in the hospital and it doesn't look good, according to the latest update.

So on this beautiful Friday, please pause long enough to send a prayer his way if you've got one to spare. You know you do.

UPDATE: Cy Rawls passed away peacefully this morning at 9:51 in the company of his parents and a few close friends. Please check back for information about the visitation tomorrow night and a memorial service in the future.

Meantime, check out the comments.

ADDENDUM (10/5/08): His obituary.  

I've read so many stories over the years about Gregg Allman being a "difficult" interview that I wasn't expecting much when I got him on the phone last week. To my surprise, however, the Southern rock icon could not have been chattier about a variety of subjects -- including one of his estranged former bandmates.

"The band has changed a lot since Derek and Warren joined, back to more like it was in the beginning," Allman said. "We don't have two guitar players fighting, then one dies and the other takes on this thing of, 'Oh God, I've gotta fill his shoes.' Then instead of the way some people turn wimpy and say they can't do it anymore, he turns bully.

"But hey," he concluded, "if you can't say anything nice, why say anything at all?"

For lots more on everything from presidential politics to Hepatitis C, check the interview in Friday's paper. Allman Brothers play Raleigh's big outdoor joint tonight, extending their run as the only act to play there every year the place has been open.

This being Rocktober, it's not surprising we've already had some choice concert announcements this month. And here's yet another: The great David Byrne at Raleigh's Meymandi Hall on Dec. 8. It's billed as an evening of "Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno," which doubtless means a big heaping helping of the duo's recently released album "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today."

Tickets go on sale Oct. 10.

Speaking of piano pop stars, last month's big Ben Folds Five reunion show won't be available for online watching for a few more weeks. In the meantime, you can catch Mr. Folds on TV tonight (or Friday morning, actually). Folds plays NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," offering up his new single "You Don't Know Me." Regina Spektor will also be there to reprise her cameo role from the recorded version.

The hits keep on coming at the soon-to-open Durham Performing Arts Center. The DPAC's latest booking, according to Pollstar, is Harry Connick Jr. The Crescent City crooner-pianist-heartthrob-cellphone pitchman will play the DPAC on Dec. 17 -- a return visit to the Triangle after his June 2007 performance in Cary.

Meanwhile, R&B pianist John Legend's Dec. 13 DPAC show goes on sale Saturday.

Word is that jam-band Phish will end its four-year hiatus next March with three sure-to-sell-out-immediately shows in Hampton, Va. Check here for details on tickets (and the band's zero-tolerance policy on scalping).

If that's step one in a full-on reunion, perhaps they'll return to Raleigh to recreate one of the more storied shows in Phish history.

Celebrate the first of Rocktober the way anybody with any sense at all does -- with the dulcet tones of The Who.

Bob Dylan's latest rarities collection "Tell Tale Signs" won't be released until next Tuesday. But you can already take a pre-release listen right here.