To conclude our full day of God Street Wine posts in honor of today’s announcement that GSW will reunite for two shows at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City on July 9 and 10 benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, we spoke with drummer Tom “Tomo” Osander about how these shows came together, the group’s plans for the future and just how much the members of the band have kept in touch over the past ten years.
[Photo Courtesy of Tom “Tomo” Osander]
Scott Bernstein: Can you describe the events that led to this reunion?
Tomo: That would go back to the memorial we played for Paul Ducharme in May of 2009. Paul was an early fan, friend and taper who passed away last year. The band got together, without any rehearsal, and played four sets of music that day. It was a pretty amazing day in honor of very special man and everyone there, especially those who stuck around till wee small hours, found themselves in a pretty agreeable place.
I wouldn’t want to pour over any recordings of that day but it was one of those situations where the power and energy of the day took over when our musical memories may have lapsed. For the five band members, I think it rekindled a bit of that spark from our early days and we went away from the experience with the mindset that we’d keep the door open to the possibility of getting together again to make some music.
When Mike sent around an email at the beginning of last October inquiring as to whether we’d be into the idea of doing something in 2010 for the anniversary of Paul’s passing, and perhaps having it coincide with the annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk, I don’t think there was a moment of hesitation for any of us. In my mind it very quickly became, “Where do we do it, under the best possible circumstances, to bring maximum enjoyment for ourselves and everyone involved?”. After that it was just about logistics. Very much like playing Paulie’s memorial, it was a no brainer.
READ ON for more of our chat with GSW drummer Tom Osander…
For today’s GSW-themed Grousing The Aisles column, we’re passing the proverbial mic to longtime taper Scott Bernstein to tell us all about a recording he made of God Street Wine’s
During the jamband boom of the early ’90s, bands like Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Phish and God Street Wine found themselves being courted by major labels who saw big dollars
We’d like to welcome longtime GSW stage manager, lighting director and close friend of both the band and HT, Michael Weiss, to share his thoughts on the upcoming God Street Wine shows at the Gramercy Theatre on July 9 and 10. As we discussed earlier, these shows will benefit a cause near and dear to Michael’s heart – the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
[Michael in his familiar position side-stage at a GSW gig]
When I was a kid, I remember all the hype surrounding The ARMS (Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis) Concert for Ronnie Lane. I had no idea what the concert was for, or why it meant so much. I just knew that the music, with Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, John Paul Jones, and more, was great, and that was enough for me. Now, 27 years later, and having been living with Multiple Sclerosis for six years, I understand how much it must have meant to Ronnie to have some of his closest friends come together to benefit, and raise awareness for people living with Multiple Sclerosis.
In 1989, six years after the ARMS concert, and after two years of solid, post-high school Grateful Dead tour, I met Ed Looram at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. That meeting opened the door to a ton of new music for me. Ed introduced me to hip-hop via De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, the alter-ego, psychedelic-pop stylings of XTC via The Dukes of Stratosphere, and what would be the life changing family of God Street Wine via a back yard throw down at Ed’s childhood home in Ridgewood, NJ.
For the next 2+ years, if I wasn’t on Dead tour, I would travel from Dover as often as I could to see GSW at what was the home of the early ’90s NYC jam scene: The Nightingale Bar, The Wetlands, and 712 Club, as well as venues outside of the city like the jam-historic Rhinecliff Hotel and 7 Willow Street. Those trips, and that time with the band, Ed and the rest of the original “Winos”, along with the interaction with the other bands, and crews on the scene, would prove to be the things that lifelong friendships and family are made of. READ ON for more from Michael on GSW’s reunion…
Back in the fall of 1995, the very first notes of God Street Wine music that I heard came via the band’s sophomore studio album $1.99 Romances. The album kicks
Today is the day God Street Wine fans have been waiting for since the band played their “final shows” as a touring unit at The Wetlands in December ’99. The original members of GSW have announced that they will reform for a two-night stand at the Gramercy Theatre in their hometown of New York City on July 9 & 10. Tickets for the shows go on sale to the general public this Friday with a special pre-sale for Winos starting at 10AM on Wednesday and running until 10PM on Thursday if tickets remain.
We started God Street Wednesdays, our weekly look at the band’s music, back in January of 2009 and the reception these columns have received made it clear that no one has forgotten about God Street Wine. Over the past 14 months, we’ve heard from many Winos, members of the band and members of the group’s crew. The first friendship we struck up was with former GSW stage manager, lighting director and close friend Michael Weiss, who had a major role in putting these shows together.
Michael, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system, in 2004, asked the band to come together to raise awareness and funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. As such, both shows will be benefits for NMSS, part of GSW’s incredibly generous plan to no longer be a profit-making entity. We’ll hear more from Michael later, as we’ll be dedicating all of our posts to God Street Wine today in celebration of this momentous occasion for Winos. Does GSW have plans to play more shows? Stay tuned for our interview with drummer Tom “Tomo” Osander this afternoon for his answer to that question. READ ON for a timeline of the events leading up to today’s announcement…
The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett from the movie "Crazy Heart" was named best original song at the 82nd annual Academy Awards Sunday
Judging from some of the vivacious story-telling on Cavaran of Thieves’ debut Bouquet and their dramatic live performances, you’d think this project was a pure off-broadway achievement. Instead the quartet led by husband and wife duo Fuzz and Carrie Sangiovanni (vocals and acoustic guitars) have carved a niche with their unique blend of gypsy folk/rock and captivating live performances, bringing new version of "live entertainment" to clubs throughout the Northeast.
God Street Wine will reunite on the 9th and 10th of July 2010 to play two benefit concerts at the Gramercy Theater in New York City. Proceeds from these shows
