Mr Wizard and I went to see John McC off today, at the Anglican church in Newtown.

A good attendance, and a good last gig.

We had raised a glass to John, with the audience, at the Townie on Friday night.

Today, we joined a host of local muso's, friends and family and saw him off with stories and songs.

As the funeral director walked slowly in front of the hearse on King St, it was the first time I've ever welcomed a disruption to traffic in Newtown.

John, we hardly knew ye.

True to his nature, he would have chided the speaker placement, but, as his long time mate KL said, finally a gig with no reverb.

It's one of the first times I have thought a funeral was wonderful. I don't know if John ever realised the depth of genuine warmth felt for him by so many people. I hope he did.

There's an old phrase that comes to mind; The best we may say of a man is that he lived respected and died regretted.

As his BFF Marcus noted, the word 'cantankerous' was well applied to John, but applied in smaller measure than his kindness and generosity.

Mr Wizard's truly bummed to lose a mate, and he's got another funeral to fly to this week. Crikey.

After John's muso mates had sung, his family and friends had spoken and the priest read a last benediction, they played a video of a moment where John stepped out from behind the mixing console to sing. Although I don't have that footage, it feels fitting and proper to play a version of the song.

Godspeed John McConnell. May the circle be unbroken, by and by.