Drummer Dave Masica had an idea. Actually, he got the idea years ago, but 2023 was the perfect time to put it into action. “I remember one night we were playing the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland. We were in the tavern, but there was a line stretched around the block for the main room. I asked one of the kids who they were waiting for and he said Badfish. Turns out they were a Sublime tribute band. I was really surprised by how many people turned out. I mean, I had been touring and recording with Watershed for 15 years and I can honestly say I never met someone who was a Sublime fan. Or who would admit to it publicly. They had that one song on the radio for a little bit but everyone pretty much hated that, too. How could this cover band be drawing such a huge crowd?”
That’s when Masica had his Ah Ha! moment. I thought, “I wonder if it doesn’t matter who you are paying tribute to, as long as the word tribute is included, fans will throw money at it. It’s all about the word tribute. It’s pure gold.”
Fast forward to 2023. Masica moved back to Central Ohio and noticed the music scene had changed since he had left Columbus. (Masica left Watershed after a show with Cheap Trick in 2016 to pursue his acting career.) “It seemed to me that 80% of the good gigs and 100% the shows making money were tribute bands.”
He wasted no time contacting former Watershed guitarist Mark “Pooch” Borror and together they formed Can’t Be Myself - A Tribute to Watershed along with Carl Gamel on bass and Rick Zinzinger on guitars and keys. “Everything fell together quickly. We had an agent and a full calendar of gigs in no time. The crowds have been enthusiastic and the backstage beer is higher quality than it ever was when we played in Watershed. No more Keystone Light or that Point Special swill.”
It hasn’t been all glory though. Critic Peter Margasak panned the bands recent performance in the Chicago Reader, describing Can’t Be Myself as “a surly Riding the Storm Out meets a castrated Riff/Raff. Stay away.” When asked about the alleged use of backing tracks (Masica and Borror are now handling lead vocals) Masica bristled, “Look, it’s called show……. BUSINESS. Colin and Joe never understood that concept. We pull no punches trying to recreate the ultimate authentic Watershed experience.”
They even go so far as to hire actors to play long-time Watershed Road Manager Schmigbe* and grizzled roadie Ricki D.*
The bulk of the material comes from the records The More it Hurts and 5th of July since it’s the material he and Pooch are most familiar with and honestly, “the best stuff they ever did” according to Masica.
I asked if they played any music off the band’s 2020 release Extended Player. “I was unaware they had released any new music. Is it on Spotify?”
When told the band had plans for another new release in 2024 he offered some cautionary advice, ”I don’t know why any band, let alone Watershed, would bother performing new music. Can’t we all agree we have too much music already? I haven’t even caught up on the Dio catalog yet. Releasing new music is just like releasing more carbon into the air. It’s killing the planet.”
When reached for comment, Colin Gawel, founding member of Watershed said he was happy for Dave and Mark and “at least somebody from the band is finally getting paid.”
He did admit that bookings for Watershed have all but dried up as promoters and agents only return his emails asking if he could forward a contact to Can’t Be Myself. “What can I say, times change and tribute bands are where all the fans and dollars are. Hard to blame musicians for taking advantage of the climate. In full disclosure, Joe Oestreich and myself put together a Watershed tribute band called Just For Show and booked an opening slot for Rokken Dokken, just to see how it would go. Honestly, it wasn’t convincing. We just didn’t sound enough like us”.
Can’t Be Myself - A Tribute to Watershed featuring Dave Masica will be touring sheds and theaters all summer on a co-headline tour featuring, you guessed it, Badfish - A Tribute to Sublime, along with Hootie and The BroFish
Meanwhile, the actual Watershed will be playing Saturday, February 25 at Ace of Cups in Columbus, Ohio. It’s Lost Weekend Records 20th Anniversary show.
In conclusion, Colin says, “Kyle was really cool to put us on the bill. Lots of great local bands. We are playing first at 7:30 sharp so don’t be late or you will miss us.” Click here for ticket info.
Jeff Hassler covers tribute bands for Pencil Storm.
*The characters Biggie and Ricki C. are owned by Watershed Inc. TM.