"Help Me Out Here Donnie..."
Was (Not Was) Hit Sundance
The Was Bros were offered a showcase spot at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. David, of course, is my main man and we've kicked around the possibilitiy of re-upping the group for years. He and his brother Don are the core of the group. They had an incredible idea that got them started over two decades ago.
I was the original guitarist on those first few records and tours and have remained close to both of them. When they called with the offer of going to Sundance to play, I was happy to join in. I thought this could be an attempt to rediscover something that was special. Not blindly or naively, but an honest effort to find out why we (and mostly David and Don) got together in the first place. I think that the spirit that got them started might be redefined for today.
I had never actually done a proper bus tour. I know it’s strange, but true. For the last ten years on the road, I’ve been in the van. (I am a proud graduate of the Epitaph school of touring the world.)
The bus was a beauty, completely decked out with all the latest technology and creature comforts. The rolling crew was Don, David, singer Sweet Pea Atkinson, tour manager Gary Hirstus and your reporter. We departed LA late in the evening and rode all night arriving in Park City at about 3pm the next day. The highlight of the trip was actually working on the bus. David got his laptop out and came up with a wacky groove, Don put a funky keyboard pattern on it and we played live acoustic bass and guitar to it. This was it. We were in the zone and doing something new and exciting. It was a small taste of what might be possible. As it turned out, we didn’t end up using the new music on the actual gig. But the spark most definitely was there.
If we’re not moving forward, we’re moving backward. This is one of the dangers of stepping off into something new from something old. There is a dangerous tendency to revert to what worked yesterday, and it’s the kiss of death. The key is to stay in today. Right now is what matters.
The shows were fun and the crowds were elated to see and hear the group again. It was flattering to have industry folks buzzing around us.
Jon Brion joined us on keyboards for the first matinee. On the second night David McMurry came in on saxophones. Mac was the original horn player on the band and is much in demand these days for his formidable talent. We were lucky to get him back for the gig. It was obvious to me there’s a special bond between the members of the group. It comes from being from Detroit and being as similarly twisted as we are. We have a unique musical language that we share. It’s a precious quality and will need to be nurtured.
Narada Michael Walden filled the drum chair. Narada, a highly successful producer in his own right, drummed beautifully and was a pleasure to get to know.
We played a late night set on Friday and had to dig out some old material to fulfill the set length. We played well and Sweet Pea sang his ass off. Some pretty cool music. It was promising.
The most fun was on the ride home. After staying up way past my bedtime watching videos of the gig, David rolled out of his bunk and comenced the Donnie and Dave show. These two missed their calling. Forget music! Tag-team comedy is the way to go for these two all American nuts. I was in stitches for hours. Maybe their routines were cornier than corn, or maybe it was the late hour and lack of sleep, but I was dying. My sides were aching from the laughter. “Help me out here Donnie…�
More news as it happens.
Wayne
Was (Not Was) Hit Sundance
The Was Bros were offered a showcase spot at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. David, of course, is my main man and we've kicked around the possibilitiy of re-upping the group for years. He and his brother Don are the core of the group. They had an incredible idea that got them started over two decades ago.
I was the original guitarist on those first few records and tours and have remained close to both of them. When they called with the offer of going to Sundance to play, I was happy to join in. I thought this could be an attempt to rediscover something that was special. Not blindly or naively, but an honest effort to find out why we (and mostly David and Don) got together in the first place. I think that the spirit that got them started might be redefined for today.
I had never actually done a proper bus tour. I know it’s strange, but true. For the last ten years on the road, I’ve been in the van. (I am a proud graduate of the Epitaph school of touring the world.)
The bus was a beauty, completely decked out with all the latest technology and creature comforts. The rolling crew was Don, David, singer Sweet Pea Atkinson, tour manager Gary Hirstus and your reporter. We departed LA late in the evening and rode all night arriving in Park City at about 3pm the next day. The highlight of the trip was actually working on the bus. David got his laptop out and came up with a wacky groove, Don put a funky keyboard pattern on it and we played live acoustic bass and guitar to it. This was it. We were in the zone and doing something new and exciting. It was a small taste of what might be possible. As it turned out, we didn’t end up using the new music on the actual gig. But the spark most definitely was there.
If we’re not moving forward, we’re moving backward. This is one of the dangers of stepping off into something new from something old. There is a dangerous tendency to revert to what worked yesterday, and it’s the kiss of death. The key is to stay in today. Right now is what matters.
The shows were fun and the crowds were elated to see and hear the group again. It was flattering to have industry folks buzzing around us.
Jon Brion joined us on keyboards for the first matinee. On the second night David McMurry came in on saxophones. Mac was the original horn player on the band and is much in demand these days for his formidable talent. We were lucky to get him back for the gig. It was obvious to me there’s a special bond between the members of the group. It comes from being from Detroit and being as similarly twisted as we are. We have a unique musical language that we share. It’s a precious quality and will need to be nurtured.
Narada Michael Walden filled the drum chair. Narada, a highly successful producer in his own right, drummed beautifully and was a pleasure to get to know.
We played a late night set on Friday and had to dig out some old material to fulfill the set length. We played well and Sweet Pea sang his ass off. Some pretty cool music. It was promising.
The most fun was on the ride home. After staying up way past my bedtime watching videos of the gig, David rolled out of his bunk and comenced the Donnie and Dave show. These two missed their calling. Forget music! Tag-team comedy is the way to go for these two all American nuts. I was in stitches for hours. Maybe their routines were cornier than corn, or maybe it was the late hour and lack of sleep, but I was dying. My sides were aching from the laughter. “Help me out here Donnie…�
More news as it happens.
Wayne
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