Watershed Tour Wraps Up

Well, that was fast. Eight years in the making the Watershed Blow It Up Before It Breaks tour ended with two final shows in Raleigh and Dirty Myrtle Beach. To write, record and release this record took everything we had. To follow it up by booking and playing two weeks of shows took even more. 

But what an amazing experience. To travel and play songs with my lifelong friends one more time was way beyond winning the lottery. Hell, if I won the lottery I would just spend all the money taking Watershed on tour anyway. Being in a band is magic. We play these songs together and they suddenly appear out of thin air. They only exist in this one moment. And then they disappear. And only this combination of people can do the trick. 

And to all the friends that helped us do it and came out to the shows…I could almost get teary-eyed…..I could be sad that no more shows are scheduled or I could be thankful for being so lucky in the first place. I choose the latter.

It reminds me of the final scene from Goodfellas. It’s all over. I’m just a regular schmo..

Below is literally the last song we played on the Blow It Up Before It Breaks tour live from The Tin Roof in Myrtle Beach. So fun! No further Watershed shows planned at this point but listening and sharing the music on Spotify or whatever is much appreciated.

*Colin Gawel League Bowlers playing Woodlands Tavern Dec 23rd. 7:30 showtime. Free.

Tribute Bands 

I recently got into a heated discussion with my fabulous wife over the subject of tribute bands. I had just gotten home from watching some of my favorite musicians perform a killer version of Tom Petty’s masterpiece Wildflowers at the Rumba Cafe here in Columbus. 

My review started positive, because it was a great show and I really respect these musicians, but I slid in a comment “but sometimes… it’s just kind of disturbing to watch people treat tribute bands like rock stars.” 

To which she responded “Well, you play in Why Isn’t Cheap Trick in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? and Cheap Trick For Charity, what’s the difference?”

Me, “What? That isn’t the same. That is for charity.”

Her, “Whatever, you still get off on pretending you are Robin Zander. Same thing.”

Me, (flustered) “But…I don’t…. I wouldn’t….I just played a whole tour of all original songs…. I’m sleeping on the sofa!!!” Obviously her remark hit a little too close to home.

Anyway, I DO NOT begrudge any musician for finding a way to pay the bills and have a good time doing it. We are all in a different boat. And some of my favorite shows are tribute shows. (Beatles Marathon Dec 28th! Tickets here.) And the clubs have employees to pay and a million different expenses to cover every month. As a small business owner myself, I totally understand that goal #1 is keeping the lights on anyway you can do it. So once again - and I cannot stress this enough - I am not trying to be a self-righteous ass. But geez…. it’s a fine line between tribute and exploitation, and it’s getting increasingly blurry out there. Are we close to a tipping point on tribute bands? Maybe I am close to a tipping point. Something just isn’t sitting right and it would be dishonest of me to not acknowledge my feelings. Or maybe I’m just an old man shaking my fist at a cloud. Anyway, just some food for thought.

Still, I decided I’m not doing a Cheap Trick For Charity show this year. It just isn’t necessary. I will find another way to contribute. But I will still play air guitar and pretend I am Robin Zander every chance I get.  

Gillian Welch / David Rawlings

With legendary Watershed tour manager Biggie behind the wheel, we cut through the snow to catch Gillian Welch / David Rawlings at The Taft Theater in Cincinnati on Thursday, November 21st. 

The first song I ever heard by Gillian was the lead off track on her debut album Revival. Four minutes later I was wiping tears away while picking up pieces of my shattered heart on the floor. You mean to tell me that woman wrote “Orphan Girl”? I thought it was spiritual that God gave Moses after passing on the 10 Commandments. 

Gillian and David are touring in support of their latest release Woodland. On this night, as usual, the stage was barren except for two microphones, two guitars, a banjo and one stand-up bass. No extra lighting. No video screens. No lasers. Not even pyro. Just two people playing and singing together. Remember that thing about music being magic? This was magic. Do not miss it if you ever get the chance to see these two live. 

New Dwight Yoakam Record! 

Brighter Days is the first release of original material from Dwight Yoakam in nine years.  I won’t wax ecstatic about how much I love Dwight. I already did that when I declared I would take Yoakam’s catalog over the rest of the entire country music canon combined. (Click here to read that story.)

Is Brighter Days his best? No. But that is hardly a criticism considering this man once ripped off the trifecta of If There Was A Way, This Time, and Gone. One of the best three-album stretches of music in any genre. 

Anyway, the songs are solid if not outstanding and the production and performances are an A+++, as usual. This tradition goes back to the days when Pete Anderson and Dwight were a team but the latter has never missed a beat since the two disbanded. 

Modern pop-country has more in common with Poison than George Jones and it’s safe to say Dwight’s many different influences shine through on Brighter Days as well. There is nary a Poison influence to be heard but his love of The Byrds and California pop is noticeable.

Still, when Dwight hit  the late night TV circuit to promote the new record, you better believe he went hardcore hillbilly on your ass. Hell yes, there is a fiddle. And that country shuffle. To expect anything less would be to expect The Ramones to add a keyboard player. Or The Hives to cover a Bon Jovi song.  Listen to all Dwight Yoakam music including this new offering and dig his Bakersfield Best station on Sirius/XM as well. And for God’s sake don’t miss him on tour next summer with the mighty Mavericks in support. All hail the king of the country music. His name is Dwight.