Some 2023 rock n roll photos heading into Comfest weekend. I’ll be playing with Willie Phoenix on the Bozo (Main) Stage Friday, June 23rd, at 9pm.
Every picture tells a story, eh?
Legendary RC Mob drummer Carlton Smith stopped by the coffee shop to say hello and I just had to be a fanboy and snap a picture. The Mob played two reunion shows in December and I was lucky to catch both of them. One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. And great guys too. Click here to read Pencil Storm interview with Carlton.
I was asked to be a guest on the 200th episode of Remedy Radio where I ran into Columbus guitar legend Terry Davidson.
Cheap Trick for Charity played a fun set at Woodlands in January. The band featured myself, Herb Schupp, Rick Kinsinger, Dave Masica, Scott Carr, Andy Hindman and Marcy Mays. Proceeds benefited Heart to Heart Food Bank. It was great fun.
Random photo of Rick Nielsen wearing a Watershed shirt just because.
The “original” League Bowlers did a set to honor the memory of local musician Kim Crawford. Photo above is Bowlers and drumming legend Jim Johnson with some adoring fan. Dan Cochran played bass and Rick Kinsinger sat in for the late, great Mike Parks.
Man, that rocks. Check out The League Bowlers Some Balls Deluxe on Spotify.
Not long after the Bowlers’ show I got my call to the major leagues to sit in with Willie Phoenix for the official Kim Crawford Celebration of Life event at Eldorado’s Bar on Sunday, February 19th. I’ve never officially played with Willie so I was thrilled to be a small part of such a special event. I snapped this picture at Willie HQ. I didn’t plan on being such a fanboy out of the gate but when I walked into rehearsal and saw Willie playing piano with all his records in front of him, I had to ask Willie for permission to snap a picture. I thought I might be fired on the spot but Willie graciously agreed to let me take this photo.
Willie and some dude.
And again
I call this piece, “Two Bullshitters and a Legend.” (Colin, Dan Dougan, Willie Phoenix.)
The week following this gig, Watershed traveled to The Loft in Saline, Michigan to put the final touches on a new LP and prepare for the Lost Weekend Records 20th Anniversary show at Ace of Cups Saturday, February 25th. However, this happened. .
A major ice storm knocked out the power in Saline, Michigan. So instead of rehearsing and finishing our new record, we set up outside in a greenhouse with a generator and rehearsed in the cold until the sun went down. Rock n roll.
Training Rocky 4 style. The gig was a blowout. I’ve never had more fun. We played like 20 songs in just over an hour. Click here for the playlist.
View from Ricki C.
View from balcony of Ace of Cups. What a crowd!
View of CD 92.9 DJ Adam Latek’s Watershed tattoo. No, he did not lose a bet to DJ Nate on Radio Nowhere.
Official, unofficial post-gig party at Ledo’s Lounge with Andy Harrison, Joe Oestreich, Jeff Ciampa, Quinn Fallon and some super-fan wearing a limited edition satin Watershed tour jacket.
Mark Chatfield (and a friend of his whose name I am forgetting) made a surprise stop by Colin’s Coffee and I got to eavesdrop on some amazing rock n roll stories. Mark is a true rock star, a true rock fan and just the nicest guy you could ever hope to know. Fun fact: Mark sold me the Fender Telecaster I have played at every single show since I was 20 years old. Bonus fun fact: Mark treated my ears to some roughs of the upcoming record from The Godz. In addition to the original tunes, they cut a cover of the Rod Stewart song Hard Road from the Mod’s 1974 release Smiler. It’s a total balls to the walls track and it happened to be written by Harry Vanda & George Young of AC/DC production fame. Who knew? Chatfield, that’s who. That Godz record is hot wax coming at you soon.
Ghost Shirt played the Rumba Cafe and this fanboy couldn’t resist getting a shot with Brandon Barnett and Billy Peake from Miranda Sound. The new record from Ghost Shirt is going to be killer.
Brian Clash is 110% rock n roll. Here we are attending the Townes Van Zandt Tribute at Dick’s Den.
Back at Dick’s Den with Curt Schieber and Gabor Kline for the Pete Linzell Celebration of Life. Lots of stories about Ronald Koal and the Trillionaires and all the great bands Pete was a part of.
In early May, Owen and I saw Bruce Springsteen in Dublin, Ireland. (Click here for that story.) Three weeks later we we gifted tickets to see KISS and The Foo Fighters at Sonic Temple. (Click here for that story.)
Ran into Columbus blues legend Sean Carney while we were both playing at Natalie’s Grandview. I was playing the free happy hour show. He was playing the sold-out ticketed event later that night. Seems about right.
And last but not least, I think I have performed or attended every Little Rock Bar anniversary party since it opened. This year I had rehearsal with Willie Phoenix the same night so I was only able to swing by at the the very end and managed to snap this photo of my pal and bar owner Quinn Fallon. Can you guess which one of us had been at the party longer celebrating its 10th anniversary? Also, the new X-Rated Cowboys record is astounding. It should be out this fall.
Wow. That’s a lot of rock in just six months. Looking forward to the rest of 2023.