On October 9, 2021, my wife Janet and I drove from our home in Culpeper, VA to The Big Room Bar in Columbus, OH, a seven-hour drive.  Watershed played an epic career-spanning set that night that included past and present members (Colin, Joe, Herb, Rick, Dave and Pooch all played).  The Extended Player EP had just come out.  Now, two and a half years later, the Blow It Up Before It Breaks record has been released, and a two-night record release party was scheduled.  I had to go.  Heck, at least it was two nights this time.  Both trips were well worth every minute in the car, but I have to say, this most recent trip was my favorite.  Here’s the rundown.

DAY ONE – FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH

Janet booked us a room for Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Olentangy Road.  We left Culpeper around 7 am and arrived just a bit after 2:00 p.m.  We relaxed, I had a beer, Janet had a glass of wine, and we then took an Uber to dinner at Milestone 229.  It was delicious.  From there, we took another Uber to The Rumba Café.  We got there just a few minutes before the doors opened at 7:00 p.m.  We were the first in line.  The couple behind us expressed amazement that we had come all the way from Virginia.  They related a story about discovering Watershed as they left a hockey game at which the band had set up and was playing.  I later confirmed that - indeed - Watershed had once played live at a hockey game.  Once inside the club, the first order of business was to find my good friend Ricki C.  Ric was already behind the merch table, so I made sure I got my t-shirt of choice.  After only a brief chat, a line was forming behind me, and far be it from me to hold up sales, so Janet and I went and staked out what would become our “spot” for the weekend at the end of the bar just a few feet from the stage.

Our first surprise of the night occurred when Watershed came on stage not long after 7 pm - before the openers - and played “I-65,” a fairly deep cut from the Twister record.  Colin said it was a request and they decided to just come out early and knock it out.  It was great.  After just that one song, the band retreated backstage and we awaited the opening act, Ricki.  Allow me to elaborate a bit on this opener.  When I first saw the name on the Watershed flyer for the show, I thought it was going to be Ricki C., who is a great musician in his own right.  I am certain his acoustic sets are a treat, although I have never seen him play in person. (I have heard demos.).  I was excited about it, but as it turns out, the Ricki opening the show is a new artist.  Or at least a new musical project for a somewhat established artist.  She is well known to my wife and I, and in Columbus, as Erica Blinn. 

When we learned that she would open the shows, my wife was pleased, as was I, because we both love the Erica Blinn records that we play often.  I got even more excited when I learned that her guitar player for the two nights would be Aaron Lee Tasjan.  Anyway, Ricki hit the stage at a bit after 8 pm and was pretty great in my opinion.  I had heard her single, called “You’re Wrong,” but it was much better played live, and I liked every song in the set.  The highlight for me was a song called “Everything Sucks.”  I hope that one gets recorded soon.  The sound was much less alt-country and far more rock & roll than the older Erica Blinn releases.  Her look was different too; Ricki had long, black hair, dark glasses, and was wearing leather pants.  She looked great.

With anticipation growing, the 9’clock hour came and sometime around 9:15, the Watershed band hit the stage.  Colin, Joe and Rick were up front and would remain so for the weekend.  Herb took his spot behind the drums.  They opened strong with “Sensational Things” from the new record.  Side one of the new release was played in its entirety, but distributed throughout the set.  Twister was well represented, as was Star Vehicle.  “Nightshade” was one track from Twister that I love which did not make it into the night one set.  From Star Vehicle, the spectacular song “Black Concert T-shirt” did make it, and Ricki joined the band on stage for “Give a Little Bit.”  Another favorite, “Superstressed” also was included.  One of my favorite Watershed songs, the title track from my favorite Watershed record, Fifth of July, made it into the night one set.  One song I have never heard, called “Five for Two” was played and was very humorous, and good.  Perhaps my favorite part of the entire weekend happened when the anthem “How Do You Feel?” was played.  The entire sweaty crowd was singing the lyrics throughout the song.  That was the moment that I realized Watershed fans are as passionate about the band as any fans of any band I’ve ever seen.  The closest comparison I could make would be Refreshments fans screaming the chorus to “Banditos” (“Well I got the pistol so I’ll keep the pesos, yeah, that seems fair!”). 

Somewhat late in the set, Dave took over the drums from Herb.  As the set wound down, a cover of “Born to Run” was played.  When the set came to a close, Ricki C. took the stage.  He gave me a shout out for driving from Virginia, which was nice of him and then he told the sell-out crowd that if they wanted more Watershed, they needed to let the band know.  He got the chant of “Wat-er-shed, Wat-er-shed” going and it took only moments for the band to return.  The band played covers of The Cult (a medley of sorts) to close out the night.  It was two of my favorite songs on the planet, “She Sells Sanctuary” with “Rain” melded onto the end of it.  By this point the packed house was totally sweat-covered and the veins on Joe’s head were bulging as he shouted out the lyrics.  It was an absolutely fantastic night of live rock & roll.  I was blown away.  Janet and I hung out for a few minutes, but the line at the merch table had formed again, so Ricki C. was busy.  Biggie was handing out Blow It Up Before It Breaks balloons, but I did not see Colin or Joe right away, so we opted to get back to the hotel and get some sleep.  We had driven seven hours, spent four and a half hours in the rather hot Rumba Café, had been up since 5:30 a.m., and we were spent.  We called an Uber and headed out.  (Side note:  We took a total of five different Ubers while in Columbus and every one picked us up within two minutes of asking for it.  There must be one hell of an army of Uber drivers in Columbus.)

Ricki C. - In the words of Colin Gawel, “Rilin’ up the crowd for an encore.” - (photo by Herb Schupp, up behind the drums)

DAY TWO – SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH

We slept in a little on Saturday morning before driving to the Short North Arts District.  We parked fairly easily and went into Town Hall for a good brunch.  We were not there for long before we found ourselves in the midst of a Pride parade.  It was colorful to say the least, and it would have been a happy accident except that pretty much all of the stores and galleries we were hoping to browse were closed.  For that reason, we didn’t stay too long.  We considered going to check out a museum or something, but in the end, we just relaxed until 4:00 when we met Ricki C. and his lovely wife Debbie for an early dinner.  They had to be back at the Rumba by 5:30 p.m., so after dinner we returned to the hotel and had a drink before taking an Uber to the club where we once again arrived just before doors, and we were again first in line.  Doors were opened a few minutes late as we could hear Ricki sound-checking. (This whole Ricki C. / Ricki thing is confusing, isn’t it?).  We milled around a bit but made sure to capture our spot once again at the end of the bar.  I was amped up to hear more tunes from Fifth of July and The More It Hurts, The More It Works.  My personal favorite Watershed song is “Obvious.”  Before I go on, let me again start with the openers.  Ricki came and talked to us for a minute and revealed that the set would be the same as night one.  That’s exactly the opposite of Watershed’s pledge of no repeats.  She was carrying a setlist that I said I would love to have after the show.  I also got an opportunity to talk with Aaron Lee Tasjan which was cool.  The band took the stage for another great opening set, and right after, she brought me the list as promised.

Opener Ricki was kind to give me this setlist.                                                            

Much like Friday night, Watershed rolled out around 9:00 p.m. or a few minutes after and proceeded to blow the roof off the place.  Don’t you love that feeling when you think the opening band was really good, but then the headliner comes on and it’s like a night & day/whole new level experience? Dave got the first shift on drums for night two.  The crowd was a sellout again, but somehow it seemed just a little less packed, which was nice.  The set was kicked off with the excellent single “Sweet Kisses/Bitter Scars.”  That was followed by the aforementioned “Obvious,” and I was flying high.  The previous trip we took to Columbus for the 2021 show at the Big Room Bar had included almost every song I love, but it was missing a personal favorite, “Lucky Day.”  I often tell Janet it’s my lucky day based on the lyrics to that song; “It must be my lucky day and tomorrow and the next day, too / Every day I wake up next to you is my lucky day.”  Well, it was not left out this time.  Janet grabbed my hand for that one.  And perhaps my second favorite Watershed song, “Laundromat” was in the set too.  “Nightshade” from Twister made it on night two, as I expected. 

We got “Wallflower Child,” the beautiful “Over Too Soon,” and “Suckerpunch,” all from The More It Hurts… record.  And another personal favorite of Janet’s, “Long Runway,” from the Extended Player EP made it.  I have not mentioned Brick and Mortar, but it was well represented over the two nights.  Colin quipped that Watershed is the only rock band with a song about global finances just before “American Muscle.”  I suspect he is right about that.  And side two of the new record was fully included, again sprinkled throughout.  Between the two nights, I can’t think of a song I wanted to hear that didn’t get played, but I’m sure I could find one if I thought about it more.  Pooch made an appearance on night two as well, as the band roared through a closing trio of “Can’t Be Myself,” “Anniversary,” and “Merchurochrome.” (“They just bring me in to play on the greatest hits,” Pooch related to Ricki C. earler in the evening.) I may be mistaken, but as the set, and the weekend, neared its end, I think the band played “Another Night in the Ruts” which was also played on night one, so the no repeat’s promise was broken, but not until after about 60 songs over two nights and a total of more than four hours of amazing live rock and roll was accomplished.

Night two setlist signed by Colin, drumsticks from Herb, one signed.

For night two we were far less worn out and had a great time after the show talking with Herb, Colin, Joe and Ricki C.  I want to take a minute to express how much both Janet and I enjoyed the City of Columbus and especially the people.  We met so many people just by swapping Watershed stories, or commenting on various t-shirts (The La’s, Sand Rubies) that we spotted.  One guy (Todd from FL?) bought us a round of drinks and another really nice guy (Jay?) recognized me from Pencil Storm and came over to introduce himself.  I did the same in recognizing Scott Carr and introducing myself to him.  I also met Nick Jezierny, Pencil Storm contributor, who had flown all the way from Idaho for the weekend.  Watershed fans are just generally great as far as I’m concerned.  I could not have been happier, honestly.  Great rock and roll can solve just about any problem you may have, at least for a little while.  The Rumba Café staff was great too, so here’s a shout out to them.  One more thing; the club was decked out with Watershed memorabilia - courtesy of Mr. Biggie McDermott - which was a great touch. 

The column which is right in the center of the Rumba Café.

Here are photos I took at the show.  There are much better ones out there, but I wanted to include mostly photos I took.

Watershed: Colin, Joe, Rick

Ricki joined the band on stage to help with “Give a Little Bit.”

Colin during the sneak preview tune “I-65” on night one.

This is not my photo, but it’s a great shot.  I wish Colin was in it too.

Okay, there you have it.  I’ve loved this band since 1994, but I am being deadly serious when I tell you that I love them more now than at any point of their career.  It sounds like hyperbole, but for me, Watershed is one of a handful of the best bands on the planet when you account for their entire catalog of music.  I just now read Jim Johnson’s Pencil Storm write up on blowing off Watershed to go see The Rolling Stones.  That definitely ain’t me, not a chance.  In fact, I can’t currently name a band I would rather go see than Watershed.  That will change, but for right now, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  I will end with this, since it was a record release party: It took a minute for me to warm up to, but I think Blow It Up Before It Breaks is excellent.  The Extended Player EP was so amazing, it was gonna be tough to follow up, but the guys did it.  There are no mediocre Watershed records.  Good job, my friends.

COLIN GAWEL, guitar   JOE OESTREICH, bass   HERB SCHUPP, drums DAVE MASICA, drums

RICK KINSINGER, guitar   MARK ‘POOCH’ BORROR, guitar

BIGGIE McDERMOTT, management & art    RICKI C. roadie & merch

TO FINISH UP - TWO SONGS LIVE FROM THE RUMBA CAFE; ONE BRAND NEW, ONE CLASSIC

  JCE, or John to his friends, was born in 1963 in the Nation’s Capital.  He grew up in the VA suburbs of D.C.  He listens to a steady diet of punk, power pop, metal (Faster Pussycat=Yes, Megadeath=No), alt country and anything that has plenty of good guitar and drums.  He has a wife of 32 years and a grown daughter, and he spends as many nights as possible listening to live rock n roll with his wife at any club that has a decent band within 100 miles or so of their house. 

(Just for the record, for this particular show it was 411 miles.)