Tag Archives: Watershed

Video: Watershed – “Manifesto”

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Directed by Milan Karcic. “Manifesto” is from the Columbus band’s recently released Brick & Mortar.

Watershed Featured on NPR Today

NPR’s Weekend Edition is featuring a story about Columbus rock veterans Watershed today.   Joe Oestreich’s recent book Hitless Wonder: A Life in Minor League Rock and Roll serves a launching point for describing the band’s continued efforts at chasing the dream, including the recent new album launch and their ongoing tour.  Audio for the story will be available on the NPR site after 12ET. From the story:

“I’ve got a 2-and-a-half-year-old son and a 3-month-old daughter, and my wife is at home with both of them, single parenting, right now,” he says. “On the one hand, everyone says, ‘Follow your dream,’ and we’re doing that, but is that in fact admirable? Some days it seems kind of pathetic. Maybe we should just pack it in and go home, but, at this point, I think it’s just too late. This is what we do.”

Besides, Gawel adds, “If you love what you’re doing, and you still feel passionate about it, why would you stop?”

 

 

Listen to Watershed’s “Brick & Mortar”

Columbus rock vets Watershed release their first new full length CD in 6 years (!!!) today (I haven’t found a link to a place to actually order it however – when I find that link, I’ll post it). In the meantime, give it a preview below where you’ll find the familiar Midwest rock sounds (think Cheap Trick meets the Goo Goo Dolls meets The Replacements) from one of Columbus’s longest standing bands.

A couple of upcoming Watershed-related events to add to your calendar:

Tonight @ Bluestone: Justin Townes Earle

MP3: Justin Townes Earle – Rogers Park (live at the Castle Theater in Bloomington, Illinois)

When Justin Townes Earle came to Columbus in the past, he’d always play the Rumba Cafe, even though he outgrew the venue pretty quickly. It made for an intimate show, but it was crowded, and if you got close to the stage you were one of the lucky ones.

Now that the Rumba’s Todd Dugan is booking occasional shows at the Bluestone, Columbus has a chance to see Earle with a bit more elbow room, good sight lines and some stained-glass ambience. After seeing Lucero in the space last month, I was also impressed by the quality of the live sound, something Rumba has become known for. …Think a smaller, classier Newport with better sound.

Tristen opens tonight’s show ($17, 18+, 9pm). Dugan’s next big Bluestone show will be Watershed‘s CD release show on June 8.

The Black Keys Donate Signed Guitar to the 19th-Annual Andyman-A-Thon


(photo taken from Lesley James’ facebook)

The Black Keys donated a signed guitar that will be auctioned off leading into this year’s Andyman-a-thon on CD102.5.

The Andyman-A-Thon is a Holiday tradition that is entering it 19th year. The late Andyman Davis would stay on his radio station’s airwaves, awake for 48 hours straight to raise money for children’s charties in Columbus.CD102.5 Listeners were encouraged to call in to request songs and donate money.

The Andyman-A-thon will take place December 16-18th this year.

The 2nd annual Andyman-a-thon Benefit Concert is this Wednesday (Nov. 23) at the LC. Watershed, Nick Tolford & Company, Lydia Loveless, and The Phantods will perform. Check out the event video below.

Black Keys fans will be stoked to know that the Keys will be on Saturday Night Live December 3rd. Steve Buscemi is the host. Continue reading

Friday: This One’s For Andy at Studio 35

Last year’s Andyman Tribute Concert at the LC paid a great tribute to the dearly-missed Columbus icon. The show, featuring six of Andyman’s favorite Columbus bands, was filmed and the resulting footage will be premiered tonight at Studio 35 Cinema and Drafthouse.

Doors open at 9pm and tickets are $7 (all ticket sales go to Andyman-a-Thon charities). DVDs will be available at the premiere (and hopefully afterwards for those who can’t attend) for $15.

Wednesday: Wilco doc at the Gateway

CD101(@102.5)’s Brian Phillips and Watershed’s Colin Gawel have teamed up for “Reelin’ & Rockin'” at the Gateway Film Center. Basically, the third Wednesday of every month Gawel and Phillips will screen a classic rock ‘n roll documentary on the big screen. (The bar opens at 6 and the movie starts at 7.) It’s Gawel’s hope that the series turns into a “nerdy music gathering once a month with beer but no live music.”

Last month was Gimme Shelter, and Wednesday’s film is I am Trying to Break Your Heart, which documented the making of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and all the problems the band had with its label, who, in the end (spoiler alert), ended up paying for the album twice.

Gawel also penned an essay at his site called “When Wilco stopped being a band and became a brand,” which is more of a tribute to and defense of Jay Bennett (the now deceased ex-Wilco member who’s a major part of the doc). It’s well-written and worth your time.

Check the Facebook page for more Reelin’ & Rockin’ info and to RSVP. Tickets are 5$ and all proceeds go to CD101 for the Kids.

More local xmas songs

Colin Gawel has a new Christmas EP out called I Still Love Christmas, available at his website and all the usual digital retailers. Title track ($1):

You can also find Gawel’s “Try a Little Faith” (featuring Marcy Mays of Scrawl) on A Very Ohio Christmas.

Earwig is giving away the song “Next Christmas” off Lizard McGee and crew’s 2010 release Gibson Under Mountain:

I also noticed that Lizard is giving away an acoustic version of the record and a mini, 4-song version. I’d take him up on all these offers.

Wednesday in Columbus: Andymanathon Benefit

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MP3: Earwig – Trees

Every year around the holidays people in Columbus have rallied around Andyman Davis to raise money for CD101 for the Kids, and that hasn’t changed now that Andyman is gone. In fact, Andyman’s buddies from bands of Columbus past (and present) are stepping up to reunite for one night at the LC Pavilion just to raise money for CD101 for the Kids and the Andy Davis Memorial Fund. A quick rundown of who’s playing:

Howlin’ Maggie, fronted by former RC Mobster and Twilight Singer Happy Chichester. Not sure when the last Howlin Maggie reunion was, but it’s been over a year, I think. That’s the band’s 1996 video for “Alchohol” up there. Ex-major label.

Watershed has never officially “broke up,” but with co-writer/singer Joe Oestreich living out of state, gigs have been few and far between. Oestreich and Colin Gawel know their way around a hook, and it made them one of the most well-known and well-liked bands in the city. Like Cheap Trick meats Replacements. I don’t know of many Columbus bands Andyman loved more than Watershed. Also ex-major label.

Earwig is still alive and kicking, releasing its latest, Gibson Under Mountain, in May. Lizard McGee’s songwriting is remarkably consistent. Check out Chip’s Gibson breakdown if you missed it. And make sure you download the leadoff track, “Trees,” at the top of the post. Andyman always gave Earwig tons of support on CD101. Continue reading

Colin Gawel ranks every Cheap Trick song

Colin Gawel (Watershed) loves Cheap Trick, so much so that he ranked all of the band’s songs (apparently 184?) with some notes about most of them, links to videos, etc. Check it out here.

Colin Gawel and the Lonely Bones will kick off the Goodale Park Music Series Sunday afternoon, free at the gazebo from 12:30-2.